Podcast Summary: Todo Concostrina

Episode: Acontece que no es poco | Fernando Muñoz, el avispado hijo del estanquero de Tarancón
Host: Nieves Concostrina (SER Podcast)
Date: June 12, 2024

Episode Overview

In this episode, Nieves Concostrina explores the fascinating – and scandalous – historical tale of Fernando Muñoz, the astute (and opportunistic) son of the tobacco shop keeper from Tarancón, who became the second husband to Queen Regent María Cristina de Borbón. With her signature humor and critical eye, Concostrina delves into the origins of “La Muñoza,” debunks persistent myths, and exposes the layers of corruption rooted in Spanish royalty, drawing parallels from the 19th century to modern times.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What (and Who) Is “La Muñoza”?

• Myth Busting: Many, including people at Iberia, believed that “La Muñoza” (where Iberia’s aircraft maintenance center is located) was named after Fernando Muñoz. Concostrina clarifies:

  “No, se llama La Muñoza por Fernando Muñoz. El historiador Carlos Vera... sabe que se refiere a otro Muñoz porque el nombre de la Muñoza allá parece referenciado en textos del siglo XV.” (01:18)

• Actual Etymology: The name likely refers to a woman or widow of another Muñoz from the 15th century.
• Implication: Iberia can “rest easy” knowing their site isn’t named after “uno de los tipos más corruptos de este país.” (02:14)

2. Corruption: A Borbón Family Tradition

• María Cristina & Fernando Muñoz:
  • Marital Origins: María Cristina, widow and regent, took up with the dashing Fernando Muñoz, a royal guardsman and son of the Tarancón tobacconist (04:15).
  • Secret Marriage: The union was secret due to legal and religious constraints—“un cura de pueblo, sin experiencia” (07:23).
  • Widespread Knowledge, Widespread Cover-Up: “Como cuando todo el mundo sabía que el convicto Juan Carlos manejaba amantes a cuatro manos, también era secreto.” (06:28)
• Systemic Privilege:
  • Prebends and titles were distributed to Muñoz’s family, including his father and brother, regardless of illegality.

3. Titles, Favors, and Nepotism

• Elevation by Marriage:
  • Fernando Muñoz received a cascade of noble titles:
    • Ducado de Riansares, Ducado de Montmorot, Marquesado de San Agustín, and Grande de España, along with high military and senate posts (11:03).
  • Family Advancement: Father made “vizconde de Savignan y conde de Retamoso” and administrator at Aranjuez; brother made “contador del patrimonio de la Real Casa.” (09:04)
• Biting Commentary:

  “Es de tal sinvergonzonería que avergüenza hasta contarlo... somos unos auténticos gilipollas aborregados.” (11:06)

4. The Farce of Legitimacy

• Long Path to Legalization:
  • More than ten years before the marriage was made legal—both civilly and ecclesiastically—during which the couple had six children, all born out of wedlock at the time. (11:27)
  • Legalization involved “unas cuantas mordidas en Roma” (bribes in Rome) paid by the Spanish public. (11:49)
  • Irony: The ecclesiastical marriage required three months of sexual abstinence as penance, despite María Cristina being seven months pregnant with their seventh child at the religious ceremony. (12:22)

5. The Cycle of Royal Corruption

• From Trains to Present Day:
  • Concostrina draws connections between 19th-century railroad corruption (with Muñoz and María Cristina) and modern scandals, such as the AVE to Mecca and King Juan Carlos’s dealings.
  • Sting:

    “La corrupción ha seguido con el AVE a la Meca y los chanchullos millonarios de Juan Carlos de Borbón y su amante Corina. Corrupción de la que se van a beneficiar todos los Borbones porque los millones están a buen recaudo en Suiza.” (04:09)

6. Cultural Recommendations and Satire

• Play: “Breve historia del ferrocarril español”
  • Described as “magnífica, esclarecedora... y absolutamente fiel a la historia corrupta de este país” (03:18).
  • Strongly recommended, especially to royalists:

    “Si en estos sitios vive gente de la que sale con la banderita a decir eso de viva el rey, que vayan a ver la obra, que se les van a quitar las ganas de un golpe.” (04:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the myth of La Muñoza’s origin:

  “La Muñoza seguramente sería la mujer o viuda de otro Muñoz... en la Edad Media era habitual referirse a las esposas con el apellido feminizado del marido.” — Nieves Concostrina (01:56)

• On royal privilege:

  “Le nombró gentil hombre de cámara, le puso un sueldo de 30.000 reales porque pagábamos nosotros.” — Nieves Concostrina (05:12)

• On the Church’s (and everyone’s) complicity:

  “Toda la prensa, periodistas y políticos protegieron al corrupto... Las amantes eran secretas.” (06:28)

• On the farce of officialdom:

  “No se podía solucionar. A ver, fue paripé todo... hasta el Papa boquiabiertos porque su católica majestad no tenía convenientemente santificado su matrimonio.” (07:58)

• On the perpetuation of titles:

  “Títulos que aún siguen vigentes y que se siguen paseando por el Hola... pese a que son producto de la corrupción más descarada.” (11:37)

• On state-financed corruption:

  “Para legalizar el matrimonio eclesiásticamente se soltaron unas cuantas mordidas en Roma. También las pagamos nosotros.” (11:49)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• La Muñoza’s origins explained: 00:59 – 02:14
• Corruption in the Borbon lineage: 03:18 – 06:10
• Story of Fernando Muñoz & secret wedding: 04:41 – 08:20
• Royal nepotism and titles: 09:04 – 11:10
• Legalization, bribes, and legacy: 11:27 – 12:45

Tone & Style

The episode features Nieves Concostrina’s hallmark blend of irreverence, biting satire, and fact-based historical storytelling. The language is sharp, cheeky, and critical—aimed squarely at the enduring abuses of Spanish royal privilege and the gullibility (or complicity) of institutions and the public.

Conclusion

By dissecting the myth around La Muñoza and exposing the underbelly of royal privilege and corruption through Fernando Muñoz’s story, Nieves Concostrina provides a scathing, entertaining, and enlightening history lesson. The episode demonstrates how patterns of nepotism, cover-ups, and enrichment at public expense have deep roots—arguably still haunting Spain today.