[3] Modest members of the hidalguia, none of the family grew into a public figure until in the mid-18th century one of its branches moved to the Andalusian Marchena;[4] they settled as arrendatarios in estates of Duque de Osuna.

[7] José's grandfather, Juan Díez de la Cortina Layna Pernia (1782–1854),[8] as the oldest surviving son became the family heir; in the 1830s he was already one of top local taxpayers.

[9] In the 1840s he formed part of the emerging "burguesía agraria",[10] a group of local hidalgo families which grew into major proprietors as duque de Osuna was selling out his estates.

[22] The Torres Díez de la Cortina relatives made their name developing the bull-breeding business and gained acknowledgement in the late 19th century.

[30] In June 1873 the 17-year-old José was dispatched North to agree the logistics and learn the war craft; he left home for Cádiz, then sailed to Marseille, crossed the Pyrenees and in July joined the Carlist troops, nominated cadete and assigned to Regimente de Caballeria del Rey.

[32] In October he made it back to Marchena, where together with his father, both brothers, a cousin, few associates including a family chaplain, some servants and a handful of volunteers[33] they formed a 20-men group,[34] soon heading North.

[37] Surrounded by family members, starting November Cortina resumed combat during failed skirmishes at Retamosa; upon death of Sabariegos, command was assumed by general Villar y Perez.

During late 1873 and early 1874 the group fought guerilla war across New Castile, Extremadura and La Mancha, engaged at Villar del Pedroso, Navahermosa, Montiel, Santa Cruz de los Cañamos, Talavera la Vieja (November), Torre del Campo (December), Puertollano,[38] Los Yébenes, Talarrubias (January), Alcoba, Garbayela, Artiñano, Agudo, (February), Moral de Calatrava and Luciana (March).

[41] The two brothers who survived the carnage – José wounded[42] - made it to Portugal[43] and from Lisbon sailed to Bordeaux, via Pau[44] crossing to Carlist-controlled area in the North just on time to take part in last battles in Biscay.

[59] His career in Cuba came to an abrupt end later that year, when officials of Ministerio de Hacienda discovered large quantities of gold and substantial sums of money missing.

The 1898 official annual listed him as secretary of Comisión Superior de Instrucción Primaria on the islands,[76] but in January 1898 he was released from administration[77] and later that year returned to Spain.

[87] In 1909 he visited Melilla[88] and the same year he travelled to Venice again, this time to attend the funeral of his king and to welcome the new claimant, Don Jaime,[89] who promoted him to general de división.

[91] Given scarce support for Carlism in Andalusia the regional party structures were rather skimpy;[92] Cortina threw himself into organizational work, building local juntas,[93] youth circles,[94] female sections[95] and requeté units.

[96] In 1910 he launched El Radical,[97] a periodical initially based in Dos Hermanas to move later to Marchena[98] and finally to Jérez de la Frontera,[99] and tried to mobilize support by organizing contests and semi-scientific conferences.

[100] Double hatting as jefe provincial in Seville[101] he negotiated coalition candidates during elections, yet his intransigent stand prevented understanding with right-wing Catholic groupings[102] and in 1911 he recommended abstention.

[103] The climax of Cortina's Andalusian efforts fell in 1912, when as counter-celebration to official centenary of liberal Cádiz constitution he mounted commemoration honoring an anti-Cádiz thinker, Francisco Alvarado, a native of Marchena.

[110] In 1913 he was nominated to the newly formed national executive[111] and entered its organization and financial committees,[112] temporarily heading also the Extremadura party branch;[46] in 1914 he was even noted on a unique trip beyond Andalusia.

[118] Turning 60 and with health problems,[119] he concluded that he would be better off on the state payroll possibly earning a pension and perhaps assumed that moving to Madrid would facilitate his return to public service.

[134] In the early 1930s Cortina returned to Carlist loyalty by joining Comunión Tradicionalista;[135] moderately exposed in propaganda as a veteran figure,[136] he was noted as sitting in minor decorative bodies[137] rather than engaged in real-life politics.