The Death of the Duchess of Medinaceli

Doña Victoria Eugenia Fernández de Córdoba, 18th Duchess of Medinaceli died on August 18th at her Seville residence aged 96.

Regarded by many as Spain’s last great noble, the Duchess was born in 1917 at the Palacio de los Duques de Medinaceli in Madrid. Her father, Don Luis Jesús Fernández de Córdoba, was the 17th Duke of Medinaceli, and her mother was Doña Ana Maria Fernandez de Henestrosa. The future Duchess was named in honour of her godmother, Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain.

In 1938, Doña Victoria Eugenia married Rafael de Medina y Vilallonga, who later served as Mayor of Seville. The couple had had children and in 1956, Doña Victoria Eugenia succeeded her father to the dukedom, which is one of the oldest in Spain, having been awarded by Queen Isabella I in 1479.

Her residence in Seville was the scene for many glittering social gatherings; her distinguished guests included the late Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco as well as Jacqueline Kennedy. At her death, the Duchess was the most titled noblewoman in Spain, her remains are to buried at the Medinaceli crypt in Toledo.

Filed under Spain
Tagged Biography, Death, Victoria Eugenia Duchess of Medinaceli.

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