Carmen Martínez-Bordiú, 2nd Duchess of Franco

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Martínez-Bordiú and the second or maternal family name is Franco.

María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco, 2nd Duchess of Franco, Grandee of Spain (born 26 February 1951 in Madrid, Spain) is a Spanish aristocrat and social figure. With the inheritance of hereditary noble titles being to changed to absolute primogeniture under Spanish law in 2006, she preceded her younger brother and with the death of her mother in 2017 Carmen became the 2nd duchess of Franco. The succession of the title was officially confirmed in July 2018.

Birth and youth

She was born in the Palacio Real de El Pardo in Madrid and is the daughter of Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú, 10th Marquis of Villaverde, and Carmen Franco y Polo, 1st Duchess of Franco Grandee of Spain. Her maternal grandparents were Spanish caudillo Francisco Franco, the Spanish Head of State and Carmen Polo y Martínez-Valdés, 1st Lady of Meirás Grandee of Spain. Her paternal grandparents were José María Martínez y Ortega (1890–1970) and María de la O Bordiú y Bascarán, 7th Countess of Argillo (1896–1980). When Carmen was born in the Palacio del Pardo, the ancient palace of the Spanish Royal Family, she was the first grandchild of General Franco. The palace was their family residence from 1940 when the Spanish Civil War ended and Gen. Franco became the Spanish Head of State. She has six siblings: María de la O (Mariola), Francisco (Francis), María del Mar (Merry), José Cristóbal (Cristóbal), María de Aránzazu (Arantxa), and Jaime Felipe (Jaime).

First marriage

Carmen was married on 8 March 1972 in the Chapel of the Palace of El Pardo in Madrid when she was 21 years old to Prince Alfonso, Duke of Anjou, son of Infante Jaime of Spain, Duke of Segovia and grandson of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. General Franco named Alfonso Duke of Cadiz and made him a Royal Highness, making Carmen a princess.

The Duke of Anjou and Cádiz and Carmen had two sons:

• Francisco de Asís, Duke of Bourbon (Madrid, 22 November 1972 - Pamplona, 7 February 1984).
• Luis Alfonso, Duke of Anjou (born 1974).

Gen. Franco died on 20 November 1975 and the family lost their political power. Alfonso and Carmen separated in 1979, received a civil divorce 1982 and an annulment in 1986. Alfonso was given custody of their sons.

Second marriage and family tragedies

After separating from the Duke of Anjou, Carmen lived with a Frenchman of Italian descent, Jean-Marie Rossi (b. Paris, 18 November 1930, 20 years her senior), divorced from Barbara Hottinguer, by whom he had twin daughters Mathilda and Marella in 1971, and a son Frederick, and in Rueil-Malmaison on 11 December 1984 she married him civilly. She was already around five months pregnant by this time, and by the time the child was born, she and her new husband would witness the death of one child each. In February, Carmen's son, Francisco de Asís, died in a car accident. Only weeks later, Rossi's daughter, Mathilda, died in a boating accident. Carmen then gave birth to her last child, María Cynthia Francisca Matilda Rossi, in Paris on 28 April 1985, barely four months after her wedding.

In January 1989, Carmen's first husband died in a skiing accident in Colorado. He had custody of their son, Prince Louis Alphonse, and Carmen became involved in a legal battle with her former mother-in-law for custody of the young boy. She lost the battle and her mother-in-law gained custody. Carmen and her second husband Rossi separated in 1994 and divorced in 1995. She then lived with an Italian gentleman, Roberto Federici, but the relationship ended in 2004. Rossi married a third time to Marie Grimaux, without issue.

Third marriage and first grandchildren

On 18 June 2006 in Cazalla de la Sierra, Seville, she married a third time to a Spaniard, José Campos García (born in Santander, 13 years her junior). She became a grandmother on 6 March 2007 with the birth of granddaughter Eugenia. In 2006, she was a contestant on "Mira quién baila!" ("Look Who's Dancing!"), the Spanish version of "Strictly Come Dancing". On 28 May 2010, Carmen had twin grandsons, Luis and Alfonso. Another grandson, Henri, followed on 1 February 2019.

Titles, styles and arms

Titles and styles

• 1951 – 1972: The Most Illustrious Doña María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco
• 1972 – 1986: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Anjou and Cádiz, Grandee of Spain
• 1986 – 2006: The Most Illustrious Doña María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco
• 2006 – 2018: The Most Excellent Doña María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco
• 2018 – present: The Most Excellent The Duchess of Franco, Grandee of Spain

Arms

Coat of arms of Doña María (1951–1972; 1986–2018) Coat of arms of Doña María (1951–1972; 1986–2018)  Coat of arms as Duchess of Anjou and Cádiz (1972-1986) Coat of arms as Duchess of Anjou and Cádiz (1972-1986)  Coat of arms as Duchess of Franco (2018-present) Coat of arms as Duchess of Franco (2018-present)

References and notes

• Hola magazine website article (Spanish)
• 20 Minutos article (Spanish)
• José Apezarena, Luis Alfonso de Borbón: Un príncipe a la espera, Plaza & Janés, 2007. (Spanish)
• Marc Dem, Le duc d'Anjou m'a dit - La vie de l'aîné des Bourbons, Perrin, Paris, 1989. ISBN 2-262-00725-X (French)

Carmen Martínez-Bordiú, 2nd Duchess of Franco Born: 26 February 1951
Titles in pretence
Preceded by Emmanuelle de Dampierre	— TITULAR — Legitimist Queen Consort of France and of Navarre 20 March 1975 – 1986 (ended with annulment following divorce)	Vacant Title next held by María Margarita Vargas y Santaella
Spanish nobility
Preceded by Carmen Franco y Polo	Duchess of Franco 2018–present	Incumbent