Agustín Muñoz, 1st Duke of Tarancón

Who was Agustín Muñoz, 1st Duke of Tarancón?

Don Agustín Maria Muñoz y de Borbon, 1st Duke of Tarancón, Grandee of Spain was the eldest son of Maria Christina, Regent of Spain, and of her morganatic husband Agustín Fernando Muñoz, 1st Duke of Riánsares.

Muñoz was born in Madrid while his mother was still Regent of Spain and his parents' marriage was not publicly known. In 1840 Muñoz went with his parents into exile in France. In 1842 his mother purchased the Château de Malmaison where Muñoz and his siblings grew up.

In 1844 Muñoz's half-sister Queen Isabella II of Spain was declared to be of age. On 19 November 1847 Isabella gave to Muñoz the title duque de Tarancón to which was attached a Grandeza de España. On 10 June 1849 she gave Muñoz a second title, vizconde de Rostrollano.

In 1846 Muñoz became a candidate for the throne of Ecuador. The proposal was made by Juan José Flores, former President of Ecuador. Muñoz was referred to in the Spanish press as Prince of the Antilles. While at first the proposal received some support from the Spanish and British governments, it soon collapsed.

Muñoz died in 1855 at Malmaison at the age of 18. His remains were buried in a tomb in the cemetery at Rueil-Malmaison.