Duke of Fernandina

File:COA Dukedom of Fernandina.svg

Coats of arms of the Dukedom of Fernandina.

Duke of Fernandina (Ducado de Fernandina) is a hereditary title in the Spanish nobility. It was granted by King Philip II to García Álvarez de Toledo y Osorio, Viceroy of Sicily and Catalonia, and later Marquis of Villafranca del Bierzo in inheritance from his elder brother. It was conferred on him the 24 December 1559, along with the principality of Montalbán.

The title was usually held by the heirs apparent of the marquises of Villafranca, and merged into the House of Medina Sidonia in 1779 when José Álvarez de Toledo, 11th marquis of Villafranca and 8th duke of Fernandina inherited the dukedom of Medina Sidonia from a distant cousin. After the death 12th duke, José Joaquín Álvarez de Toledo, none of his sons claimed the title, so the dukedom of Fernandina became dormant. Eighty years later, the 21st duchess of Medina Sidonia and her son the Count of Niebla ceded their rights to the title to their daughter and sister, Pilar González de Gregorio, who asked for the resumption of the dormant dukedom. On 1 February 1993, the title was restored with grandeeship of Spain by King Juan Carlos I to Pilar, who became the 13th duchess of Fernandina and is the current holder of the title.

Dukes of Fernandina (1559-)

• García Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Marquis of Villafranca and 1st Duke of Fernandina (1514–1577).
• Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 5th Marquis of Villafranca and 2nd Duke of Fernandina (1546–1627), eldest son of the 1st Duke.
• García Álvarez de Toledo, 6th Marquis of Villafranca and 3rd Duke of Fernandina (1579–1649), elder son of the 2nd Duke.
• Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 7th Marquis of Villafranca and 4th Duke of Fernandina (1635–1705), elder son of the 2nd Duke's second son.
• Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 8th Marquis of Villafranca and 5th Duke of Fernandina (1658–1728), eldest son of the 4th Duke.
• Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 9th Marquis of Villafranca and 6th Duke of Fernandina (1686–1753), elder son of the 5th Duke.
• Antonio Álvarez de Toledo, 10th Marquis of Villafranca and 7th Duke of Fernandina (1716–1773), eldest son of the 6th Duke.
• José María Álvarez de Toledo, 15th Duke of Medina Sidonia and 8th of Fernandina (1756-1796), elder son of the 7th Duke.
• Francisco de Borja Álvarez de Toledo, 16th Duke of Medina Sidonia and 9th Duke of Fernandina (1763–1821), second son of the 7th Duke.
• Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, 10th Duke of Fernandina (1799–1816), eldest son of the 9th Duke
• Pedro de Alcántara Álvarez de Toledo, 17th Duke of Medina Sidonia and 11th Duke of Fernandina (1803–1867), second son of the 9th Duke.
• José Joaquín Álvarez de Toledo, 18th Duke of Medina Sidonia and 12th Duke of Fernandina (1826–1900), elder son of the 11th Duke.

Dormant (1900–1993)

• Pilar González de Gregorio, 13th Duchess of Fernandina (b. 1957), great-great-granddaughter of the 12th Duke.

The heir apparent is Don José Márquez y González de Gregorio (b. 1978).

References

• Elenco de Grandezas y Títulos Nobiliarios Españoles, Hidalguía Editions, 2008
• González de Gregorio Álvarez de Toledo, Pilar, Ducado de Fernandina in Carlas as Director, ABC, 23 February 2001. (Spanish)