Doña Victoria Eugenia Fernández de Córdoba y Fernández de Henestrosa, 18th Duchess of Medinaceli, GE (16 April 1917 – 18 August 2013) was a Spanish noblewoman and Grandee of Spain. She was the head of the Spanish noble House of Medinaceli and patron of the Ducal House of Medinaceli Foundation. In addition to her most senior title of Duchess of Medinaceli, she held an additional 49 other hereditary noble titles during her lifetime, making her the second-most titled noblewoman in Spain, just after Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba. 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 was baptized in the Royal Chamber of the Royal Palace of Madrid, with Queen Victoria Eugenie and King Alfonso XIII of Spain serving as her godparents. She was named after the Queen. She was known by the nickname Mimí to her family and close friends. 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 second-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 in 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 the son of Luis de Medina y Garvey, a son of the 4th Marquis of Esquivel, and Amelia de Vilallonga e Ybarra. They had 4 children:

Titles

Victoria Eugenia Fernández de Córdoba held a total of 50 hereditary noble titles during her lifetime, 14 of which accompanied by the dignity of Grandee.

Dukedoms

Marquessates

Countships

Viscountcies