He was the 10th Duke of Medinaceli, an Ambassador of the King of Spain, Majordomo and Stable master of the queen, and a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

[1] He was the second son of Luis Mauricio Fernández de Córdoba y Figueroa (1650–90), 7th Marquis of Priego and 7th Duke of Feria.

[3] In 1711 Nicolás succeeded his uncle Luis Francisco de la Cerda y Aragón, 9th Duke of Medinaceli, who had died without issue.

[3] He died in Madrid on 19 March 1739, and was buried at the Monastery of Santa María de Huerta in the Province of Soria.

[1] On 30 September 1703 he married his first cousin, Jerónima María Spínola y de la Cerda (1687–1757), in the San Sebastian Church, Madrid.