Archive

The Fernández de Córdova name appears in Spanish history from the conquest of Córdoba in 1236. Over the centuries that followed, the family divided into several great branches and served in Spain, Italy, North Africa, and the Americas.

This section is about the family itself: who they were, what they did, and what they stood for. The company carries the family’s name and represents it, so the records and reports gathered here exist to tell the family’s story, for anyone who wishes to learn more. They follow published scholarship, and entries are added as they are verified.

• 1236

  Fernán Núñez de Témez takes part in the conquest of Córdoba. The documented line of the family begins here.

• After 1328

  His son, Alfonso Fernández de Córdoba, is regarded as the founder of the name.

• 14th–15th centuries

  The lineage divides into four great branches, each with its own seat and titles, and many cadet lines.

• 1453–1515

  Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, known as the Gran Capitán, leads Spanish forces in Italy and helps establish Spanish rule at Naples.

  Further reading: Britannica · Wikipedia

• 1512–1558

  The family’s service extends to North Africa, at Oran and Tlemcen.

• 1622–1629

  Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marqués de Guadalcázar, serves as Viceroy of New Spain and then of Peru.

  Further reading: Wikipedia · Encyclopedia.com

• 19th century

  Fernando Fernández de Córdova, Marqués de Mendigorría, serves as Spain’s Minister of War and writes his memoirs.

  Further reading: Biografías y Vidas · Wikipedia

• Aguilar and Priego

  The senior line, later merged into the House of Medinaceli.

• Cabra, Baena and Sessa

  The branch of the Gran Capitán’s descendants, the Dukes of Sessa.

• Alcaides de los Donceles and Comares

  The line of the Marquesses of Comares.

• Montemayor and Alcaudete

  The line of the Counts of Alcaudete.

A selection of the principal works on the family and the Gran Capitán.

• Family and Empire

  Yuen-Gen Liang. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011. The principal English-language study of the family, from Córdoba in 1236 through the early sixteenth century.

  Further reading: Project MUSE · Penn Press

• La nobleza española en la Edad Moderna

  Raúl Molina Recio. Doctoral thesis, University of Córdoba, 2004. The most complete study of every branch of the family.

• Los Fernández de Córdoba. Nobleza, hegemonía y fama

  Proceedings of the first international congress, Alcalá la Real, 2018. A second congress has since followed.

• Orígenes de los Fernández de Córdova

  Clemente Fernández de Córdova y Lubián. Almuzara, 2022. The origins of the lineage and the family foundation of Santa María de los Huérfanos.

• El Gran Capitán. Retrato de una época

  José Enrique Ruiz-Doménech. Península, 2002. The major modern biography of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba.

  Further reading: Britannica

• The Great Captain

  Mary Purcell, 1962, and Gerald de Gaury, 1955. The standard English-language lives of the Gran Capitán.

• Vita di Consalvo Ferrando di Cordova

  Paolo Giovio, 1552. The founding Renaissance biography, written at the family’s commission.

• Historia genealógica y heráldica de la Monarquía Española

  Francisco Fernández de Bethencourt, 1897–1920. Four of its volumes are devoted to the Fernández de Córdoba.

In preparation.

We are preparing a report on the family’s history across Spain, Italy, North Africa, and the Americas, drawing on the published scholarship, with archival research continuing. It will be published here when complete.

Write to us if you would like to be informed when it is released.