Alfonso de la Cueva, marqués de Bedmar
Encyclopedia
Alfonso de la Cueva-Benavides y Mendoza-Carrillo, marqués de Bedmar (first name also spelled Alonso, often used was the title Bedmar) (Bedmar, now Bedmar y Garciez
, province of Jaen, Spain
, 1572 – Málaga
, Spain
, August 10, 1655) was a Spanish
diplomat
, bishop
and Roman cardinal
. He was born in Bedmar, in what is now the province of Jaén. Alfonso was the son of Luis de la Cueva-Benavides, 2nd señor of Bedmar, and Elvira Carrillo de Mendoza y Cárdenas.
of the Canary Islands
. After 1590, he took his father's place in his absence, and a year later was named captain of the Harquebusiers. After the death of his father in 1599, he became the 3rd lord of his house and became a commander of a Cavalry company.
On December 23, 1606, King Philip III of Spain
made him the Spanish ambassador
to the Republic of Venice
. This was an important position due to the amount of information concerning European affairs which passed through the hands of the Spanish representative. On April 16, 1610, King Philip III awarded him the title of Knight of the Order of Alcántara
. In 1614 , aged around 42, he was made Marqués de Bedmar, which he would resign when promoted to the cardinalate.
In 1618 king Philip III charged him with the devolution
of the territories conquered by the Spanish forces in Piedmont
to the duke of Savoy. In 1616 Venice concluded an alliance with France
, Switzerland
, and the Netherlands
to counter Spain's power. Bedmar was instructed to destroy this league and, with Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna
, viceroy of Naples (1574–1624), and the Spanish Governor of the Duchy of Milan, Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, 3rd Duke of Feria, planned a naval invasion to bring the city closer to the Spanish sphere of influence
. The scheme was to be carried out on Ascension Day in 1618 but was revealed by the French, and Bedmar, protected by his position from arrest, left Venice.
After the fiasco of Venice, Bedmar went to Flanders
as president of the council. In 1622 he received the red hat of a cardinal. Later, he became the ambassador extraordinary and counselor of Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia and the Junta of War in Flanders
.
The authorship of an anonymous work, Squitinio della libertà Veneta, published at Mirandola
in 1612, has been attributed to him.
on July 18, 1633. De la Cueva opted for the title of Santa Balbina
, July 9, 1635, and participated in the Consistory of 1644
De la Cueva opted however for the order of bishops and the suburbicarian see of Palestrina, on October 17, 1644. He was consecrated on Sunday, October 23, 1644. Named bishop of Málaga, retaining the diocese of Palestrina, July 27, 1648, he did not took possession of the diocese until 1651, staying thus longer in Italy and did not participated in the Consistory of 1655.
He was buried in the Cathedral of Málaga
.
Bedmar y Garcíez
Bedmar y Garcíez is a city located in the province of Jaén, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 3185 inhabitants.Formerly Bedmar and Garcíez were independent municipal entities. They were merged in 1975....
, province of Jaen, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, 1572 – Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, August 10, 1655) was a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and Roman cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
. He was born in Bedmar, in what is now the province of Jaén. Alfonso was the son of Luis de la Cueva-Benavides, 2nd señor of Bedmar, and Elvira Carrillo de Mendoza y Cárdenas.
Early years
At a young age, Alfonso pursued a military career at the side of his father, who was the captain generalCaptain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
. After 1590, he took his father's place in his absence, and a year later was named captain of the Harquebusiers. After the death of his father in 1599, he became the 3rd lord of his house and became a commander of a Cavalry company.
On December 23, 1606, King Philip III of Spain
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
made him the Spanish ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. This was an important position due to the amount of information concerning European affairs which passed through the hands of the Spanish representative. On April 16, 1610, King Philip III awarded him the title of Knight of the Order of Alcántara
Order of Alcántara
The Order of Alcántara , also called the Knights of St. Julian, was originally a military order of León, founded in 1166 and confirmed by Pope Alexander III in 1177.-Alcántara:...
. In 1614 , aged around 42, he was made Marqués de Bedmar, which he would resign when promoted to the cardinalate.
In 1618 king Philip III charged him with the devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
of the territories conquered by the Spanish forces in Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
to the duke of Savoy. In 1616 Venice concluded an alliance with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to counter Spain's power. Bedmar was instructed to destroy this league and, with Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna
Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna
Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna was a Spanish nobleman and politician. He was the 2nd Marquis of Peñafiel, 7th Count of Ureña, Spanish Viceroy of Sicily , Viceroy of Naples , a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece since 1608, Grandee of Spain, member of the Spanish Supreme...
, viceroy of Naples (1574–1624), and the Spanish Governor of the Duchy of Milan, Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, 3rd Duke of Feria, planned a naval invasion to bring the city closer to the Spanish sphere of influence
Sphere of influence
In the field of international relations, a sphere of influence is a spatial region or conceptual division over which a state or organization has significant cultural, economic, military or political influence....
. The scheme was to be carried out on Ascension Day in 1618 but was revealed by the French, and Bedmar, protected by his position from arrest, left Venice.
After the fiasco of Venice, Bedmar went to Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
as president of the council. In 1622 he received the red hat of a cardinal. Later, he became the ambassador extraordinary and counselor of Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia and the Junta of War in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
The authorship of an anonymous work, Squitinio della libertà Veneta, published at Mirandola
Mirandola
Mirandola is a city and comune of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, in the Province of Modena, 31 km northeast of the provincial capital by railway.- History :Mirandola originated as a Renaissance city-fortress...
in 1612, has been attributed to him.
Cardinalate and episcopate
Created Cardinal Deacon in the consistory of 1622, September 5, under Pope Gregory XV,(9 January or 15 January 1554 – Pope 6 February 1621 - 8 July 1623), born Alessandro Ludovisi, de la Cueva, then around 51, did not participate in the Consistory of 1623 electing new Pope Urban VIII. He became a Cardinal Priest, receiving the title of San Martino ai MontiSan Martino ai Monti
San Martino ai Monti, also known as Santi Silvestro e Martino ai Monti - Titolo Equizio, is a basilica church in Rome, Italy, in the Rione Monti neighbourhood.-History:...
on July 18, 1633. De la Cueva opted for the title of Santa Balbina
Santa Balbina
Santa Balbina is a basilica church in Rome, devoted to St. Balbina. It was built in the 4th century over the house of consul Lucius Fabius Cilo on the Aventine Hill, behind the Baths of Caracalla. Possibly the ancient Titulus Tigridae, the basilica was consecrated by Pope Gregory I.The adjoining...
, July 9, 1635, and participated in the Consistory of 1644
De la Cueva opted however for the order of bishops and the suburbicarian see of Palestrina, on October 17, 1644. He was consecrated on Sunday, October 23, 1644. Named bishop of Málaga, retaining the diocese of Palestrina, July 27, 1648, he did not took possession of the diocese until 1651, staying thus longer in Italy and did not participated in the Consistory of 1655.
He was buried in the Cathedral of Málaga
Cathedral of Malaga
Cathedral of Málaga is Renaissance church in Málaga, Andalusia, southern Spain. It is located inside the limits that the missing Arab wall marked, forming a great architectonic set with the nearby Alcazaba and the Castle of Gibralfaro. It was constructed between 1528 and 1782, following the plans...
.
External links
- http://www.cismamagina.es/pdf/14-06.pdf
- http://www.cismamagina.es/pdf/22-05.pdf
- http://www.isel.org/cuadernos_2004/articulos/troyano_jm.htm
- http://www.tercios.org/personajes/inf_espanola_3.html
- http://www.grandesp.org.uk/historia/gzas/montijo.htm
- http://www.tercios.org/personajes/ARTILLERIA_flandes.html
- http://www.abcgenealogia.com/Carrillo00.html