All About Fernández de Córdoba: The Family That Inherited the Duchy After the Extinction of La Cerda

The Ducal House of Medinaceli, one of the oldest and most powerful lineages in Spain, has been the stage for great deeds as well as impressive downfalls. In this dramatic tale of grandeur and decay, the Fernández de Córdoba family emerges as the heirs to a duchy filled with history, intrigue, and palace secrets following the extinction of the La Cerda line. We will explore the events that led to this change of hands and the figures who left an indelible mark on the course of Spanish nobility.

The Extinction of La Cerda: An Unexpected Turn in History

The House of La Cerda, which had held the title of Dukes of Medinaceli since its creation in 1391, faced a tragic fate in the 17th century. The death without succession of its last representative, Duchess María de la Cerda, in 1700, marked the beginning of a power vacuum. This event, noted by contemporary chroniclers, not only left a sign of interregnum in the duchy but also opened the door to new marital alliances and dynastic ambitions.

The Fernández de Córdoba were a family with a noble past that did not go unnoticed. Originating from Córdoba, they had managed to accumulate considerable wealth and status over the centuries. The union of the Fernández de Córdoba with the House of La Cerda was solidified through a key marriage, allowing them to claim the duchy in 1701, a moment that could be considered the resurrection of a fading lineage.

The Rise of the Fernández de Córdoba: Grandeur and New Opportunities

With the arrival of the Fernández de Córdoba family to the duchy, a new era of splendor was unleashed. Under Duke Francisco de Borja Fernández de Córdoba, the duchy sought to reclaim its former glory. The family, as they...