Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona

Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona, 5th Duke of Sessa (2 December 1550 – Valladolid, 6 January 1606), was a Spanish nobleman. He held numerous titles including the 5th Duke of Sessa, 4th Duke of Soma, 3rd Duke of Baena, and 7th Count of Cabra. He served as the Spanish ambassador to the Holy See between 1590 and 1604 under Philip II and Philip III.

Early life and family Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona was born in Bellpuig, Catalonia, the second son of Beatriz Fernández de Córdoba, 4th Duchess of Sessa, and Fernando Folch de Cardona, 2nd Duke of Soma. Through his mother, he was a nephew of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, 3rd Duke of Sessa and Governor of Milan. Although Beatriz would normally have borne the surname Fernández de Córdoba, she preferred to be known as Beatriz de Figueroa in honour of her maternal grandmother, whose surnames were Manrique de Lara and Figueroa. This practice of using a surname belonging to an ancestor, rather than the paternally inherited surname, was not unusual among the Spanish nobility of the time. Antonio's name was also affected by this practice. Ordinarily he would have been a Folch de Cardona, inheriting his father's surname, but his parents instead decided to give him the Fernández de Córdoba name, in memory of his famous ancestor, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba. His maternal lineage also connected him to Francisca Fernández de Córdoba y de la Cerda, widowed Marchioness of Gibraleón, from whom Antonio inherited several noble titles.