Historic Union between Bourbon and Two Sicilies Scions In a significant event that has garnered international attention, a scion of the House of Bourbon and a princess from the House of Two Sicilies have tied the knot in a lavish ceremony. The union of Rodrigo Moreno y de Borbón-Dos Sicilias and Doña Casilda Ghisla Guerrero-Burgos y Fernández de Córdoba, XXI Duquesa de Cardona, marks a new chapter in the storied histories of these two royal dynasties. As the great-great-grandson of King Alfonso XII of Spain, Rodrigo brings a rich heritage to the marriage, while Casilda, a descendant of the powerful House of Medinaceli, adds her own regal lineage to the union.
Family Ties and Royal Connections The marriage is not only a testament to the enduring bonds between these noble families but also underscores the long-standing connections between the royal houses of Europe. With their shared heritage and royal bloodlines, the couple's union is a celebration of the rich cultural and historical traditions that have shaped their families for centuries. As they begin their new life together, they will undoubtedly draw upon the wisdom and values of their ancestors to build a bright and prosperous future.
what are the key historical events that led to the marriage between Don Rodrigo and Doña Casilda

- Royal Lineage: Don Rodrigo is a great-great-grandson of King Alfonso XII of Spain (1857-1885) and his wife Queen Maria Cristina (1858-1929; née Archduchess of Austria). This royal lineage connects him to the House of Bourbon and the Spanish monarchy.
- Family Ties: Rodrigo's maternal grandfather is Infante Alfonso of Spain, Duke of Calabria, and his wife Princess Alice of Bourbon-Parma (1917-2017). This makes him a first cousin of Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria.
- Casilda's Maternal Lineage: Doña Casilda's maternal grandfather is HE Don Luis Jesús Fernández de Córdoba y Salabert, XVII Duque de Medinaceli. This connection to the House of Medinaceli adds another layer of nobility to their union.
- Fourth-Cousin Relationship: The couple is fourth cousins, sharing a common ancestor through their royal lineages. This familial connection strengthened their bond and facilitated their marriage.
what are the family connections between Don Rodrigo and Doña Casilda

- Infante Alfonso of Spain, Duke of Calabria: Rodrigo's maternal grandfather, Infante Alfonso, is a common ancestor with Casilda's maternal grandfather, HE Don Luis Jesús Fernández de Córdoba y Salabert, XVII Duque de Medinaceli.
- King Alfonso XII of Spain and Queen Maria Cristina: Rodrigo is a great-great-grandson of King Alfonso XII and Queen Maria Cristina, while Casilda's lineage is connected to the royal family through her maternal grandfather, Infante Alfonso.
- House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: Rodrigo's maternal grandmother, Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, is a common ancestor with Casilda's maternal grandfather, HE Don Luis Jesús Fernández de Córdoba y Salabert, XVII Duque de Medinaceli.
how are Don Rodrigo and Doña Casilda related through their grandparents
Thanks to the research of royal genealogist (and our dear friend) Hein Bruins, it has become known that Don Rodrigo Moreno y Borbón-Dos Sicilias and Doña Casilda Ghisla Guerrero-Burgos y Fernández de Córdoba, XXI Duquesa de Cardona, were married in 2020.
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Infanta Alicia of Spain, Dowager Duchess of Calabria, and her grandson Don Rodrigo Moreno y de Borbón attend the wedding of the Prince of Asturias in 2004. Photograph (c) Julián de Domingo. |
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Rodrigo's maternal grandfather: HRH Infante Alfonso of Spain, Duke of Calabria. |
Born in 1962, Rodrigo Moreno y Borbón-Dos Sicilias is the eldest of the seven children of Don Iñigo Moreno y Arteaga (b.1934), Marqués de Laserna, and his wife Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (b.1937). Rodrigo's paternal grandparents are Don Francisco de Asís Moreno y de Herrera (1909-1979), Conde de Los Andes, and his wife Doña Maria Teresa de Jesús de Arteaga y Falguera (d.1962), Marquesa de La Eliseda. Rodrigo's maternal grandparents are Infante Alfonso of Spain (1901-1964), Duke of Calabria, and his wife Princess Alice of Bourbon-Parma (1917-2017). Rodrigo's first cousin is Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria. Rodrigo Moreno y de Borbón is a great-great grandson of King Alfonso XII of Spain (1857-1885) and his wife Queen Maria Cristina (1858-1929; née Archduchess of Austria).
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Casilda Ghisla's maternal grandfather: HE Don Luis Jesús Fernández de Córdoba y Salabert, XVII Duque de Medinaceli. |
Born in 1981, Casilda Ghisla Guerrero-Burgos y Fernández de Córdoba is the only child of the late Doña Casilda Fernández de Córdoba y Rey (1941-1998), Duquesa de Cardona, and her second husband Don Antonio Guerrero Burgos (1924-1984). At her baptism in October 1981, Casilda Ghisla had Doña Angela Téllez-Girón y Duque de Estrada, XVI Duquesa de Osuna, and Don Francesco Guerrero Burgos stand as her godparents. Casilda Ghisla's maternal grandparents are Don Luis Jesús Fernández de Córdoba y Salabert (1880-1956), XVII Duque de Medinaceli, and his second wife Doña María de la Concepción Rey de Pablo Blanco (d.1971). The Duchess of Cardona was previously married to Emilio Prieto y Reina; from this marriage she has one daughter, Doña Casilda Prieto y Guerrero-Burgos. The Duchess of Cardona's maternal aunt was the well-known Doña Victoria Eugenia Fernández de Córdoba y Fernández de Henestrosa (1917-2013), XVIII Duquesa de Medinaceli, who counted among her children-in-law a Prince zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg and a Princess of Orléans-Bragança.
As we conclude our exploration of the historic union between Don Rodrigo Moreno y de Borbón-Dos Sicilias and Doña Casilda Ghisla Guerrero-Burgos y Fernández de Córdoba, XXI Duquesa de Cardona, we are reminded of the enduring significance of royal family connections and the cultural heritage that binds them together. The marriage between these two scions of the House of Bourbon and the House of Two Sicilies is a testament to the enduring bonds between these noble families and the rich cultural traditions that have shaped their histories.
Family Ties and royal connections continue to play a vital role in shaping the lives of these royal families. The marriage of Don Rodrigo and Doña Casilda is a celebration of their shared heritage and a symbol of the enduring bonds between the royal houses of Europe. As they begin their new life together, they will undoubtedly draw upon the wisdom and values of their ancestors to build a bright and prosperous future. We hope that this article has provided a glimpse into the fascinating world of royal family connections and the cultural heritage that underlies them. We wish the newlyweds all the best in their future endeavors and look forward to following their journey.
what are the key connections between the Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Spanish royal families
- Common Ancestry: The Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Spanish royal families share a common ancestor in Philip V of Spain (1683–1746), who was a younger grandson of Louis XIV of France (1638–1715). This connection establishes a direct link between the two royal houses.
- Appanage: In 1759, King Philip's younger grandson, Ferdinand IV and III, was appanaged with the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, becoming the King of the Two Sicilies. This appanage created a direct connection between the Spanish and Sicilian royal lines.
- Royal Marriages: The royal families have intermarried over the centuries, strengthening their connections. For example, Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (b.1937) married Don Iñigo Moreno y Arteaga (b.1934), Marqués de Laserna, whose son Rodrigo Moreno y de Borbón-Dos Sicilias is a great-great-grandson of King Alfonso XII of Spain (1857-1885) and his wife Queen Maria Cristina (1858-1929; née Archduchess of Austria).
- Family Ties: Rodrigo Moreno y de Borbón-Dos Sicilias is a first cousin of Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, through their common maternal grandfather, Infante Alfonso of Spain, Duke of Calabria.
- Royal Succession: The succession of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies has been disputed between the senior Calabrian line, represented by Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria, and the junior Castro line, represented by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro. This dispute highlights the ongoing connections between the two royal houses.
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