The countdown to one of the most anticipated weddings of the year, the marriage of Cayetano Martínez de Irujo and Bárbara Mirjan, has begun. For months, Spanish high society has speculated about which of the aristocrat’s many siblings would attend the celebration, and little by little, the veil of secrecy has lifted. However, a recent decision has stirred up some pre-wedding turmoil: Jacobo Siruela, one of the most private sons of the late Duchess of Alba, will not be attending the ceremony.
The intrigue was not resolved through the press, but rather in a manner more traditional for aristocratic circles. Jacobo sent an official letter to the Palacio de Liria, in which he explained the reasons for his and his wife’s, journalist Inka Martí’s, absence. It has emerged that the couple have three serious reasons for missing the family event. These reasons underscore just how different his personal priorities are from those of the rest of his illustrious clan.
The first and main reason is professional obligations. In early October, ‘Atalanta’ publishing house, Jacobo’s brainchild, celebrates its twentieth anniversary. This project became his life’s work after he stepped away from managing his first successful publishing company, ‘Siruela,’ which he founded in 1982 together with his former wife María Eugenia Fernández de Castro. Moreover, this year marks 45 years since the publication of his first book, making the date especially significant for him as a publisher.
The second reason relates to his wife’s achievements. Inka Martí was recently awarded the prestigious ‘Aglaya’ prize, presented by the Artisophia Foundation for ‘commitment to culture, peace, and ecology.’ The award ceremony took place in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the couple decided to combine this occasion with a series of business meetings with local booksellers, which also required their time and attention.
Finally, the third reason is both international and environmental. Soon, Jacobo and Inka will travel to the UK for a meeting with the CBA (The Circular Bioeconomy Alliance). This charitable organization, established by King Charles III, funds projects that accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral bioeconomy. The visit is directly linked to their own large-scale project, ‘Airhón.’ On 4,000 hectares of land in Salamanca province, inherited by Jacobo from his mother, the couple is actively engaged in organic farming, land renaturalization, and the restoration of the rare ‘morucha’ cattle breed. This work clearly plays a central role in their lives, relegating even important family celebrations to the background.
Thus, while his sister Eugenia and her husband, as well as brothers Fernando and Alfonso, will attend the wedding, Jacobo Siruela has chosen a different path. His decision, supported by strong reasoning, further underscores his reputation as the most intellectual and independent of the late Duchess of Alba’s heirs.
