Burial Almudena Cathedral | Name Cristobal 10th | |
Born 1 August 1922
Mancha Real, Spain ( 1922-08-01 ) Died 4 February 1998(1998-02-04) (aged 75)
Madrid, Spain Spouse Maria del Carmen Franco y Polo, 1st Duchess of Franco Issue Maria del Carmen Martinez-Bordiu, Duchess of Anjou and Cadiz
Maria de la O Martinez-Bordiu
Francisco Franco, 11th Marquis of Villaverde
Maria del Mar Martinez-Bordiu
Jose Cristobal Martinez-Bordiu
Maria de Aranzazu Martinez-Bordiu
Jaime Felipe Martinez-Bordiu Father Jose Maria Martinez y Ortega Mother Maria de la O Esperanza Bordiu y Bascaran, 7th Countess of Argillo | ||
Don Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú y Ortega, 10th Marquis of Villaverde (1 August 1922 Jaén, Mancha Real, Spain – 4 February 1998 Madrid, Spain) was a Spanish aristocrat and noted heart surgeon.
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Family
He was born Cristóbal Martínez y Bordiú, one of four children of José María Martínez y Ortega (Jaén, Mancha Real, 24 October 1890 - Mancha Real, 10 November 1970) and wife (m. Sabiñán, 2 February 1918) María de la O Esperanza Bordiú y Bascarán (Madrid, 19 December 1896 - Mancha Real, 12 December 1980), 7th Countess of Argillo. Even though they did not have as many titles as the Duchess of Alba, they had enough to give each of their sons a title. Andrés Martínez-Bordiú was made the 15th Count of Morata de Jalón, José María Martínez-Bordiú was made the Baron of Gotor, Tomás Martínez-Bordiú was made the Baron of Illueca and Cristóbal was made the 10th Marquess of Villaverde.
When he was 23 he graduated from medical school.
Marriage and children
He was married on 10 April 1950 in the Palacio Real de El Pardo with María del Carmen Franco y Polo, the future Duchess of Franco, the daughter of the Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco (1939–1975). There were more than 800 attending the wedding. It was performed by the Bishop Leopoldo Eijo y Garay of the Diocese of Madrid (now Archdiocese of Madrid). This wedding made him acquire a great social relevance in the Spain of General Franco, he was nicknamed the Yernísimo (this is a clear reference to the title of Generalísimo of his father-in-law, as yerno in Spanish means son-in-law, although in Spanish the suffix -ísimo can only be added to certain adjectives to indicate "more than", but it can never be used with nouns). In 13 years, he and his wife had seven children:
First Spanish heart transplant
Since he was a heart surgeon and great friend and admirer of Dr. Christiaan Barnard, he became the first Spaniard to perform a heart transplant in September 1968. The patient only survived 24 hours.
On a visit to Spain Dr. Barnard joked, "I am a surgeon who wants to be a playboy and he is a playboy that wishes to be a surgeon."
Death
He died in Madrid on 4 February 1998 and was succeeded as marquis by his eldest son, Francisco Franco, 11th Marquis of Villaverde.