Modern Spain’s history includes figures whose influence was enormous but remained in the shadow of the monarch. One such key figure was Nicolás Cotoner y Cotoner, the 22nd Marquess of Mondéjar (marqués de Mondéjar). For the honorary King Juan Carlos I, he was more than an advisor—he was a mentor, a friend, and the man the monarch referred to as his “adoptive father.”
The future king’s and the aristocrat’s paths crossed when Juan Carlos was 17. The Marquess, then still holding the title Count de Tendilla (conde de Tendilla), became one of his mentors. He prepared the young prince for entry into the Military Academy in Zaragoza, laying the foundations for their years-long friendship and trust. This bond grew even stronger when, in 1969, Cotoner was appointed to head the Prince’s Household, and with Juan Carlos’s accession to the throne in 1975, he became the Head of the Royal Household (Jefe de la Casa del Rey), a position he held for 15 years.
The role of the Marquess of Mondéjar was especially significant during the country’s pivotal period—the transition from dictatorship to democracy (Transición). His thoughtful advice and steadfast support became a pillar for the young monarch during years of political instability, including the attempted coup in 1981. His image—as a distinguished aristocrat, always one step behind the king—became a symbol of stability and loyalty to the crown.
The depth of their relationship was evident in the royal couple’s response to his passing on March 6, 1996. Juan Carlos and Sofía immediately visited the marquis’ home to offer condolences to his widow and five children, staying with them until late into the night. As the highest sign of respect, the king named Cotoner the lifelong head of the Royal Household. Earlier, on his mentor’s 90th birthday, the monarchs interrupted their vacation to personally congratulate him, organizing a touching surprise.
The marquis’s loyalty to the crown was absolute, extending beyond his own lifetime. According to his will, after his death, his family burned his entire personal archive, which he had collected over 15 years of service. More than a hundred letters and valuable documents containing information about behind-the-scenes events during Spain’s democratic transition were destroyed. This act became the ultimate show of loyalty, ensuring the secrets of that era would remain forever protected.
Nicolás Cotoner was born in Palma de Mallorca on October 19, 1905. He received a law degree and fought in the Civil War on the Francoist side, suffering serious injuries and receiving a military medal, ultimately attaining the rank of cavalry general. In 1945, he married María de la Trinidad Martos y Zabálburu, vizcondesa de Ugena (vizcondesa de Ugena), with whom he had five children.
The connection between the royal family and the Cotoner family has remained unbroken. The La Escorzonera estate near Madrid, where the marquis’s children reside, has served as a refuge for Juan Carlos I, offering him unwavering support and complete privacy. It was there that he spent time before departing for Abu Dhabi. The marquis’s eldest daughter, Marta, is one of Queen Sofía’s closest friends. For his service, the Marqués de Mondéjar was awarded Spain’s highest honor, the Order of the Golden Fleece (Toisón de Oro), in 1977.
