⭐ 5 Fascinating Facts About the Enigmatic Belina de Valdeterrazo, Duchess of Montpensier

Belina de Valdeterrazo, the Duchess of Montpensier, was a true embodiment of the term "femme fatale." Born on April 22, 1895, in Madrid, Spain, she was the only child of Don Ulpiano González de Olañeta y González de Ocampo and Doña Isabel Eugenia de Ibarretea y Uhagon. Her marriage to Prince Ferdinand d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, in 1921 was a highly publicized event, attended by members of the royal family from both Spain and France. This union marked the beginning of a tumultuous relationship that would captivate the attention of the European aristocracy.

As the Duchess of Montpensier, Belina's life was shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Her isolation of her husband from his family, particularly his sisters, sparked rumors of her manipulative nature. Her untimely death on July 11, 1958, at the age of 63, left a lasting impact on those who knew her. The Duchess of Guise, Belina's sister-in-law, famously quipped that Belina's death was due to her heart, implying that her life was marked by the very same manipulative tendencies that had defined her marriage. This article delves into the life of Belina de Valdeterrazo, exploring the complexities and controversies that surrounded her enigmatic existence[1].

what is the story of belina de valdeterrazo, duchess of montpensier

Belina de Valdeterrazo, Duchess of Montpensier, was born on April 22, 1895, in Madrid, Spain, as Doña María Isabel "Belina" Josefina Teodora Magdalena González de Olañeta y Ibarreta. She was the only child of Don Ulpiano González de Olañeta y González de Ocampo and Doña Isabel Eugenia de Ibarretea y Uhagon. Belina married Prince Ferdinand d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, on August 20, 1921, at Randan, France. The wedding was attended by members of the royal family from both Spain and France, including Belina's parents and Prince Ferdinand's sisters, who were the wives of European nobles. Belina's marriage was marked by her apparent isolation of her husband from his family, particularly his sisters. This led to rumors of her manipulative nature. Her life was shrouded in mystery and intrigue, and her untimely death on July 11, 1958, at the age of 63, left a lasting impact on those who knew her. The Duchess of Guise, Belina's sister-in-law, famously quipped that Belina's death was due to her heart, implying that her life was marked by the very same manipulative tendencies that had defined her marriage.

what was the relationship between belina de valdeterrazo and prince michael of greece

Belina de Valdeterrazo, Duchess of Montpensier, was the grandmother of Prince Michael of Greece.

what was the relationship between prince michael of greece and prince ferdinand d'orleans, duke of montpensier

Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark was the son of Princess Françoise of Orléans (1902–1953) and Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark (1888–1940). Princess Françoise was the daughter of Jean d'Orléans, Duke of Guise, and Princess Isabelle d'Orléans, making her a niece of Prince Henri, Count of Paris, who was the brother of Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Montpensier. This establishes a familial connection between Prince Michael of Greece and Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Montpensier, through their shared family ties within the House of Orléans.

Born on 22 April 1895 at Madrid, Doña María Isabel "Belina" Josefina Teodora Magdalena González de Olañeta y Ibarreta was the only child of Don Ulpiano González de Olañeta y González de Ocampo (1847-1928), II Marqués de Valdeterrazo, and Doña Isabel Eugenia de Ibarretea y Uhagon (1856-1930), who wed in 1891. In Spain, and particularly Madrid, Isabel was known as "Belina Valdeterrazo."

Antonio González y González.

Belina's paternal grandparents were Don Antonio González y González, I Marqués de Valdeterrazo, and Doña María Josefa de Olañeta y Ocampo. Her maternal grandparents were Don Adolfo de Ibarretea and Doña Isabel de Uhagon y Vedia.

The wedding of Ferdinand and Belina, 1921.

The Duke and Duchess of Montpensier in Paris, 1922.

Photo (c) Maurice-Louis Branger / Roger-Viollet / Granger.

On 20 August 1921 at Randan, Doña Isabel "Belina" González de Olañeta y Ibarreta, Vizcondesa de los Antrines, married Prince Ferdinand d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier. The Duke of Montpensier was the youngest child of Prince Philippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris, and Infanta Maria Isabel of Spain. Their wedding was heavily attended by Ferdinand's family, particularly his sisters: Queen Marie Amélie of Portugal; Princess Hélène, Duchess of Aosta; and Princess Isabelle, Duchess of Guise, with her husband (and first cousin) Prince Jean, Duke of Guise, and their children Prince Henri and the Princesses Isabelle, Françoise, and Anne. Belina's parents were also present for the wedding of their only child. Shortly after their marriage, Belina apparently isolated Ferdinand from his family.

Prince Ferdinand.

Slightly after more than two years of marriage, the Duchess of Montpensier was left a widow. Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Montpensier, died at the age of thirty-nine at the Château de Randan on 30 January 1924. The cause of his passing was a drug overdose. The duke had long struggled with substance abuse. It has been alleged by some that Belina knew of his drug issue and that she weaponised this to her advantage. The Duchess of Montpensier is believed, by some family members of the duke, to have withheld drugs from her husband until Ferdinand made a will leaving his fortune to her. Ferdinand's previous heir had been his brother, the Duke d'Orléans and Head of the Royal House of France at the time. Whether or not this is true, upon the Duke of Montpensier's death, it was discovered that he had left all of his worldly possessions, including the Château de Randan, to Belina. Prince Ferdinand was buried at Dreux.

The ruins of Randan.

On 25 July 1925, the Château de Randan caught fire and the treasures it contained inside were consumed by the flames. Madame Adélaïde, a sister of King Louis-Philippe, had overseen the restoration of the ancient castle. The Dowager Duchess of Montpensier had only recently decided to reopen the château after having left it following the death of her husband. Belina had been in residence at Randan for only two days before a fire broke out at 5am in the Chinese room of the château. The duchess, along with a friend, were able to easily leave Randan. Belina even directed firefighters once they arrived on the scene; it took them nearly fifteen hours to put out the blaze.

José María de Huarte.

On 12 October 1948 at Vitoria, the Dowager Duchess of Montpensier secretly married José María de Huarte y Jáuregui (1898-1969). In 1949, the duchess changed her will and left half of the inheritance she had received from the Duke of Montpensier to her second husband, Huarte, and the other half to one Socorro Uhagon y Mazas; three executors were named: José María de Huarte y Jáuregui, his brother Angel de Huarte y Jáuregui and the Marqués de Goicorrotea.

Belina in 1952, Madrid.

Doña Isabel González de Olañeta y Ibarreta, III Marquésa de Valdeterrazo, died of a heart attack on 11 July 1958 at her home in Madrid. She was sixty-three years-old. Prince Michael of Greece recalls being with his grandmother the Duchess of Guise (who had been Belina's sister-in-law) when the duchess received news of Belina's death. The Duchess of Guise quipped: "Well, Bellina has died due to her heart. I did not know she had one."

To read Prince Michael of Greece's recollections, please check out his post: Tante Bellina

As we conclude our exploration of the enigmatic life of Belina de Valdeterrazo, Duchess of Montpensier, it is clear that her story is a testament to the complexities and intrigues that often surround the lives of those in the aristocracy. From her early life in Madrid to her tumultuous marriage and subsequent inheritance, Belina's life was marked by a series of events that continue to fascinate and intrigue us today. Her legacy, though shrouded in mystery, serves as a reminder of the power and influence that women, particularly those from the upper echelons of society, can wield in shaping the course of history. As we reflect on the life of this femme fatale, we are reminded of the importance of understanding the intricate web of relationships and alliances that often define the lives of those in power.

Belina's story, though unique in its own right, is also a reflection of the broader societal trends and cultural norms that shaped the lives of women during the early 20th century. Her marriage, for instance, was a product of the strategic alliances and diplomatic maneuvering that were common among the European aristocracy at the time. Her subsequent inheritance and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death only add to the intrigue, leaving us to ponder the true nature of her character and the motivations that drove her actions. As we close this chapter on Belina's life, we are left with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of human nature and the enduring power of the femme fatale archetype, which continues to captivate and inspire us to this day.

what was the impact of belina de valdeterrazo's marriage to prince ferdinand d'orleans, duke of montpensier

Belina de Valdeterrazo's marriage to Prince Ferdinand d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, had significant implications for both parties involved. The marriage, which took place on August 20, 1921, at Randan, France, was a strategic alliance between the Spanish aristocracy and the French royal family. Belina, the only child of Don Ulpiano González de Olañeta y González de Ocampo and Doña Isabel Eugenia de Ibarretea y Uhagon, brought a substantial inheritance to the marriage, which included the title of Marchioness of Valdeterrazo and the property of los Antrines. The marriage was heavily attended by Prince Ferdinand's family, particularly his sisters, who were the wives of European nobles. However, shortly after the marriage, Belina isolated her husband from his family, leading to rumors of her manipulative nature. The marriage also had a profound impact on Prince Ferdinand's life. He died on January 30, 1924, at the age of 39, reportedly due to a drug overdose. His will, which left a treasure trove of jewels and objets d'art to the head of the Maison de France, was later altered by Belina, who became the beneficiary. This change in the will led to speculation about the true nature of their relationship and the motivations behind Belina's actions. Belina's marriage to Prince Ferdinand also had lasting implications for her own life. She continued to use her title and her inheritance to maintain a high social standing, even after her husband's death. Her subsequent marriage to José María de Huarte y Jáuregui in 1948 and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death in 1958 further added to the intrigue surrounding her life. In summary, Belina de Valdeterrazo's marriage to Prince Ferdinand d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, was a strategic alliance that had significant implications for both parties involved. The marriage led to rumors of Belina's manipulative nature and had a profound impact on Prince Ferdinand's life, ultimately influencing the course of their lives and the lives of those around them.