House of Coloma

the House of Coloma or de Coloma or Colomba is an old important Spanish Noble House. An branch belongs to the Flemish nobility, and became the Counts of Bornhem. Other branches became the Counts of Elda, Marquesses of Espinar, Marquesses of Noguera and Marquesses of Canales de Chozas.

The origin is going back to Don Pedro de Coloma and his wife dona Maria de Cardona. Pedro was esquire of Gaston, count of Carcasonnes. He left France and settled in Catalonia, and was called Coloma, from the French Colombe.

His descendants made military career in service of the Kings of Aragon. Gaston I de Coloma was rewarded the Order of Montesa. Other early members like Francisco Coloma fought against the moriscos in Mallorca. Juan I de Coloma left Catalonia and went to Borja, he received by royal grace of John II of Aragon and Navarre the Seigneury of Alfajarin in 1467. Here his eldest son, (from the second marriage) don Juan II de Coloma, became 1st Lord of Elda in Valencia, together with Salinas and Petrer. His descendants lived in Zaragossa, La Rioja and Burgos: they and spread in the empire. The married to important families like Croy and de Borja. It is beleaved that a branch is still alive, probably don Francisco Coloma y Gallegos, died 1993, who was minister of Franco had six children.

The Flemish branch that came out Spain with Farnese lived in Bornem, Gent, Brussels and Mechelen. They had important careers and functions in the society of the Austrian Empire. In Mechelen and Bornem they left important heritage and monuments. The Flemish branch has become extinct.

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