H.E. JORGE ALBERTO VALENCIA Y GUEVARA

H.E. Don Jorge Alberto Valencia y Guevara, born in 1981 in Colombia, is a distinguished businessman with ventures spanning various industries, including telecommunications, oil and gas, and international consulting. He holds a degree in Law and Political Science, specializing in International Law, and a Juris Doctor (Doctor of Jurisprudence) from the University of Miami, USA.

An avid historian with a passion for medieval and Iberian history, as well as a political commentator, Don Jorge Alberto is a proud member of the House of Valencia. This Spanish nobiliary house is a cadet branch of the Royal House of Burgundy of Castile and León, tracing its lineage to Infante Juan of Castile and Aragon, "El de Tarifa," son of King Alfonso X, "The Wise." Infante Juan was proclaimed King Juan I of León, Seville, and Galicia in 1296 after the death of his father, who had divided his kingdoms during familial strife and disputes over the Castilian crown with Sancho IV.

The House of Valencia thrived during the 14th to 16th centuries in Castile and León, particularly in the city of Zamora. Its members served as Grand Masters of the Order of Santiago, Marshals of Castile, and military leaders in King Philip II's council of war. The family later established itself in the Americas, with its seat in Popayán, present-day Colombia. There, it produced the Counts of Casa Valencia, Grandees of Spain, and prominent figures in republican Colombia, including diplomats, legislators, and President Guillermo León Valencia, who served in 1962.

Don Jorge Alberto holds the hereditary title of Señor de Casa Valencia Ius Sanguinis. His illustrious heritage is complemented by his knighthood in several prestigious orders:

• Knight of the Order of the Congress of Colombia
• Knight of the Royal Order of St. Michael of the Wing (Royal House of Portugal)
• Knight Maestrante of the Maestranza de Caballería de Castilla
• Knight of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, where he also serves as Commander of the Southeast Commandery within the Grand Priory of America.

Through his professional, historical, and chivalric pursuits, Don Jorge Alberto Valencia y Guevara exemplifies a legacy of leadership, nobility, and service.