Duke of Cádiz

Arms of the Duke of Cadiz (1972-1989)

The Dukedom of Cádiz is a title of Spanish nobility. Its name refers to the Andalusian city of Cádiz.

History

Rodrigo Ponce de León was a Castilian military leader who was granted the title of Duke of Cádiz in 1484. After the death of the first duke in 1492, the Catholic Monarchs negotiated with Francisca Ponce de León y de la Fuente regarding the abolition of the Marquisate and Duchy of Cádiz, reinstating the city and the titles to the crown after her death.

For centuries, the title remained in abeyance, until the nineteenth century. Since then, the title was held by members of the Spanish branch of the House of Bourbon.

List of holders

	Royal Title	Period
First creation by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile
I	Rodrigo Ponce de León	1484–1492
II	Francisca Ponce de León y de la Fuente	1492–1493
Second creation by Ferdinand VII of Spain
I	Infante Francisco de Asis of Spain (b. 6 May 1820, d. 15 November 1821)	1820–1821
II	Infante Francis of Spain (brother of the above)	1822–1902
Third creation by Francisco Franco
I	Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre	1972–1989

Sources

• Juan Martina Torres, The History of Spanish Nobility, 1500–present (Madrid 2009), for the: Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) (translated title)
• Supression of the Duchy of Cádiz (Spanish)
• Holders of the Duchy of Cádiz (Spanish)