Victoria Eugenia Fernández de Córdoba, 18th Duchess of Medinaceli


Doña Victoria Eugenia Fernández de Córdoba y Fernández de Henestrosa, 18th Duchess of Medinaceli, Grandee of Spain was the 18th Duchess of Medinaceli in her own right and a Grandee of Spain, head of the Spanish noble House of Medinaceli and patron of the Ducal House of Medinaceli Foundation. She died in Seville on 18 August 2013, aged 96.

Background

Doña Victoria was born as the eldest daughter of Don Luis Jesús Fernández de Córdoba y Salabert, 17th Duke of Medinaceli, and Doña Ana María Fernández de Henestrosa y Gayoso de los Cobos. She married Rafael de Medina y Vilallonga in 1938, and she succeeded to the dukedom in 1956, upon her father's death. Before that, she was styled as 16th Duchess of Alcalá de los Gazules, a courtesy title granted by her father. She was the most titled noblewoman in Spain, and holder of one of its most ancient dukedoms.
In 1980, the Duchess established the Ducal House of Medinaceli Foundation, which manages the Casa de Pilatos in Seville, her principal residence, as well as the Hospital de San Juan Bautista in Toledo and the Palacio de Oca in Galicia.

Marriage and issue

The Duchess married, on 12 January 1938 at Seville, Rafael de Medina y Vilallonga, Knight of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla and Mayor of Seville from 1943–47. The Duke was son of Luis de Medina y Garvey, second son of the 4th Marquis of Esquivel, and Amelia de Vilallonga e Ybarra. Children:

Titles

Dukedoms