Fernando Muñoz Altea

Fernando Muñoz Altea (left) with the Duke and Duchess of Castro.

Fernando Muñoz Altea is the current King of Arms of the Royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.^[1] He is a Spanish/Mexican historian, specialised in the study of the aristocratic European colonial families of the Americas.^[2] Muñoz Altea is born in Madrid (Spain) on 22 November 1925.^[3]

King of Arms

Seal of the King of Arms of the Royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

Muñoz Altea was introduced to the study of heraldry, genealogy and nobility by Don José de Rújula y Ochotorena, Marqués de Ciadoncha, Dean of the Corps of Chronicler King of Arms (Cuerpo de Cronista Rey de Armas), and by Don Julio de Atienza y Navajas, Barón de Cobos de Belchite, author of the well-known work “Nobiliario Español”. Both became his mentors and friends. On 10 November 1962 Muñoz Altea was appointed King of Arms of the Royal House of the Two Sicilies by HRH Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House.^[4] The Kingdom of Sicily did not have actual heralds (to grant coats of arms and issue certificates of nobility) in recent times, but rather a Commission for Titles of Nobility based in Naples until 1861.^[5] This commission concerned itself with the administration of certain nobiliary institutions, recognition of titles of nobility and heraldry.^[6] The appointment of the King of Arms continues this tradition. Certifications of arms and certificates of nobility issued by Muñoz Altea's office in the name of the Royal House are, in effect, documents of a dynastic nature. Muñoz Altea is the King of Arms of the Royal House of the Two Sicilies. He does not have a governmental position but has the status of Private Officer of Arms. In addition to his office as King of Arms, Muñoz Altea is delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.^[7]

Historical work

Fernando Muñoz Altea, signing a copy of Blasones y Apellidos.

Muñoz Altea is the author of several books, among them, the biographies of the 64 Viceroys of Mexico, The House of Los Pinos History (the Presidencial Residence of Mexico), The Biographies of the Signers of the Independence Act, “Los Virreyes de la Nueva España, Perfiles genealógico-biográficos” (Universidad Monteávila, Caracas, Venezuela 2013) and “Blasones y Apellidos”, first and second edition. Muñoz Altea has ordered and cataloged historic archives of many municipalities in Spain.^[8]

Fernando Muñoz Altea (r) and the Queen consort of Spain

Distinctions

• Degree in History, Hermanos Maristas de Madrid in 1951
• King of Arms of the Royal House of Borbon Two Sicilies since 1962
• Commander with plaque of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, delegate for Mexico
• Heraldic Advisor to the Cuban Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• Knight of the Mexican Legion of Honor (Legión de Honor Mexicana) in the eminent grade
• Consultant for the Mexican Mint House, Numismatic Division, for the commemorative emission of “Coins of the Federation” (2003)
• President “Ad Vitam” and founder of the Mexican Academy for Genealogic and Heraldic Studies^[9]
• Fiscal of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de la Habana (Royal Cavalry of Havana) since 2015

References

1. "bestofsicily.com". BestOfSicily/Heraldry.
2. "eluniversal.com". El Universal.
3. "genealogia.org". Genealogia.org.
4. "bestofsicily.com". BestOfSicily/Heraldry.
5. "bestofsicily.com". BestOfSicily/Heraldry.
6. "bestofsicily.com". BestOfSicily/Heraldry.
7. "ordinecostantiniano.it". Ordine Costantiniano.
8. "worldcat.org". Worldcat.
9. "genealogia.org". Genealogia.org.

Further reading

Fernando Muñoz-Altea (Author), Blasones y Apellidos, boxed set (books 1, 2 & 3) (Spanish), hardcover, 1748 pages. Publisher: Grupo Impresores Unidos; 2nd edition (2016), ISBN 6078403079, ISBN 978-6078403073. With a contribution of Prof. Alejandro Mayagoitia, Professor of Legal History at Universidad Panamericana.