Rafael de Angulo y Heredia, I Marquis of Caviedes

Rafael de Angulo y Heredia
2nd Cousin 3x Removed

Rafael de Angulo y Heredia was a prominent Spanish-Cuban businessman, financier, and aristocrat born on May 11, 1850, in Matanzas, Cuba, during the period when Cuba was a Spanish colony. He died on June 7, 1934, in Paris, France, at the age of 84. The dates "1915-1934" in your query likely refer to the period during which he held the noble title of the first Marqués de Caviedes, granted by King Alfonso XIII of Spain on April 5, 1915, and retained until his death. His parents were Laureano Angulo y Heredia and Rafaela Heredia y Heredia, sister to the famous poet, Jose Maria Heredia y Heredia.


Early Life and Career
Born into a well-connected family in colonial Cuba, Angulo y Heredia moved to Europe early in his life, establishing himself in France. He became a successful entrepreneur and banker, notably founding the Banco Español en París (Spanish Bank in Paris), which catered to Spanish expatriates and interests in France. He also served as a counselor (consejero) for the Ferrocarriles del Norte (Northern Railways), a major Spanish rail network, contributing to infrastructure and economic development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His business acumen and international connections positioned him as a key figure in transatlantic finance and trade between Spain, Cuba, and Europe.




Noble Title and Legacy
On April 5, 1915, King Alfonso XIII created the Marquesado de Caviedes—a Spanish noble title referencing the locality of Caviedes in Cantabria, Spain—as a reward for his contributions to Spanish interests abroad. As the first holder (I Marqués de Caviedes), he was also honored with the Comendador de la Legión de Honor (Commander of the Legion of Honor) from France and the Caballero Gran Cruz del Mérito Militar (Knight Grand Cross of Military Merit) from Spain. These accolades reflect his role in fostering economic ties and possibly diplomatic efforts during a time of global upheaval, including World War I.

Angulo y Heredia married twice in Paris: first on February 1, 1882, to María Baltasara Sánchez de Movellán y Mitjans (from a Spanish noble family), with whom he had children including María Teresa, Amalia, Antonio, and Isabel; and second on January 6, 1896, to her sister Isabel Sánchez de Movellán y Mitjans, who bore his successor, Antonio de Angulo y Sánchez de Movellán (the second Marqués de Caviedes, confirmed in 1956 after posthumous authorization in 1935). The title passed through his family line, underscoring his enduring aristocratic legacy.

He spent much of his later life in Paris, where he died. His life bridged colonial Cuba, imperial Spain, and modern Europe, embodying the era's economic migrations and noble revivals under the Restoration monarchy.

Marquis of Caviedes
I     Rafael de Angulo y Heredia 1915-1934
II    Antonio de Angulo and Sánchez de Movellán 1956-1959
III   Rafael Angulo and García-Ogara 1960-1991
IV   Francisco Javier Angulo García 1991-2021
V    Francisco Javier Angulo Tuset 2022-current incumbent