Fernando Muñoz, 2nd Duke of Tarancón


Fernando María Muñoz y Borbón, or Fernando Muñoz, 2nd Duke of Tarancón and Riánsares, was the second son and fourth child of the Maria Christina, Regent of Spain, and her morganic husband Agustín Fernando Muñoz, Duke of Riánsares. He was thus the half-brother of Queen Isabella II. Given the title Viscount of Alborada at birth and on the death of his older brother, Agustín Muñoz, 1st Duke of Tarancón, he became the 2nd Duke of Tarancón, and Viscount of Rostrollano. After the death of his father in 1873, he became the Duke of Riánsares and Duke of Montmorot.

Biography

In 1840, he was exiled from Spain with his parents when Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara, took power, before returning to Madrid in 1843.
In 1847, the queen mother was again exiled to France with her children and settled in Rueil-Malmaison. During this exile, his older brother, Agustín died at the age of 18 without descendants on July 15, 1855. His two other brothers, Juan Muñoz, Count of Recuerdo, and José Muñoz, Count of Gracia, died as well. Fernando, as the only surviving son of the couple, inherits the titles of his older brother and becomes Duke of Tarancón and Viscount of Rostrollano.
In 1873, on the death of his father, he became the Duke of Riánsares and Montmorot. After the restoration of 1874, he returned to Spain under the reign of his nephew, Alfonso XII, who named him Grandee of Spain.

Marriage and descendants

On September 11, 1861, he married Eladia Bernaldo de Quirós González de Cienfuegos who gave him eleven children: