Isidro Duarte

Isidro Venceslás Duarte Arias Duque de Estévez (born October 8, 1973) is the Duke of Estévez and 10th Regent of Ventora and the. He was proclaimed ruling Duke of Estévez on August 18, 2014, succeeding his father, Rubén Martín Duarte Atúñez. At that time, Isidro became a fellow of the Grand Council of State. His peers elected him to regency in 2019 and he assumed the office on January 1, 2020.

Early life
Born October 8, 1973 at Palacio de Gazania, Estévez, Isidro had an uneventful early childhood. In his youth, he helped with the family business, Belmonte Foods SA, and became rather knowledgeable about produce.

Education
Following his primary education under private tutelage, Isidro attended the private Colegio de Viso, which caters to the noble class, for secondary and tertiary levels. He placed in the academic track for years 9 to 11. For his baccalaureate levels, he attended Academia de Segorín, another private school exclusive to the nobility and upper-level wealthy families. He took Manouk as his second foreign language to supplement the Interspeach taken since secondary levels.

Upon completion of his military service in 1998, Isidro matriculated to the University of Ascara, taking studies in. He received his licentura in 2002.

Military service
Like all Ventorans, Isidro entered the Ventoran Armed Forces the year he turned 18 in 1992. After completing his standard military training, he served in an infantry unit. He was promoted to sergeant after six months, bypassing the rank of corporal, likely due to his status as a duke.

After his mandatory year of active service, Isidro was accepted to Officer Training School. Upon completion, he was promoted to lieutenant and placed in an armor unit. After a year there, he was moved to the Defense Staff and promoted to captain a year later. He mustered out of active service in 1998 and elected to remain in the inactive reserve. He is eligible for promotion to colonel upon recall to active service. His inactive reserve tenure expires in 2023 upon reaching age 50.

Business career
After attaining his licentura in economics, Isidro joined the family-owned Belmonte Foods S.A. as a vice president in 2002. Initially responsible for domestic marketing, he was charged with international business development beginning in 2007. He became president of the company in 2013, stepping down upon his proclamation as ruling Duke of Estévez in 2016. He still sits on the board of directors.

Public life
Although active in the community since leaving the military, Isidro's public life got its start when he was proclaimed ruling Duke of Estévez in 2014.

Ruling Duke of Estévez
On August 18, 2014, Isidro succeeded his father as ruling Duke of Estévez following the latter's death. In this capacity, Isidro has taken an active role in the governance of the duchy. With his knowledge of economics and experience in key leadership positions at Belmonte Foods, he has taken several decisions that resulted in significant improvements to the duchy's finances. Although less involved, Isidro has retained his role as ruling duke during his term as regent of Ventora.

Term as regent
The Grand Council of State elected Isidro to the regency in 2019. He began his term of office as the tenth regent on January 1, 2020. He has focused his attention on domestic policy and economic development, continuing the country's long-standing trade traditions.

Titles and styles

 * October 8, 1973 – October 7, 1991: "Don Isidro Duke of Estévez"
 * October 8, 1991 – August 17, 2014: "His Most Excellent Isidro Duke of Estévez"
 * August 18, 2014 – December 31, 2019: "His Excellency Isidro Duke of Estévez"
 * January 1, 2020 – present: "His Excellency the Regent and Head of State and His Excellency Isidro the Duke of Estévez (Su Excelencia el Regente y Jefe del Estado y Su Excelencia Isidro el Duque de Estévez)