García Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Marquis of Villafranca
Encyclopedia
García Álvarez de Toledo y Osorio, 4th Marquis of Villafranca del Bierzo (August 29, 1514 – May 31, 1577), was a Spanish military officer and politician.
, the son of Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Marquis of Villafranca, Viceroy of Naples between 1532 and 1553. His mother was Juana Pimentel, Marchioness of Villafranca del Bierzo. The infamous Iron Duke, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
, was his cousin. Among his many siblings was Eleonora of Toledo, wife of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
He started his military career under the command of Andrea Doria
in the galleys of Naples, as commander of two ships. In 1535, already the commander of 6 galleys, he distinguished himself in the battles of La Goletta, Tunis
, Algiers
, Sfax, Calibria y Mebredia. After this he was named Capitain General of the Galleys of Naples
.
He was Capitain General of the expedition to Greece, and Capitán General del Mar, a title he received in 1544 after having fought Hayreddin Barbarossa. He was Viceroy of Catalonia between 1558 and 1564. He then became Colonel General of the Infantry of Kingdom of Naples
and finally, Viceroy of Sicily between 1564 and 1566.
As Viceroy of Sicily he accomplished his two greatest achievements: the conquest of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera
in 1564, and the relief of the Siege of Malta (1565)
. For this he received from King Philip II of Spain
the titles Duke of Fernandina and Prince of Montalbán on December 24, 1569.
He died at Naples
in 1577.
He also had two illegitimate children:
Biography
He was born at Villafranca del BierzoVillafranca del Bierzo
thumb|250px|Castle of Villafranca.Vilafranca del Bierzo is a village and municipality located in the comarca of El Bierzo, in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain.It is one of Galician speaking councils of Castilla y León....
, the son of Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Marquis of Villafranca, Viceroy of Naples between 1532 and 1553. His mother was Juana Pimentel, Marchioness of Villafranca del Bierzo. The infamous Iron Duke, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands , nicknamed "the Iron Duke" in the Low Countries because of his harsh and cruel rule there and his role in the execution of his political opponents and the massacre of several...
, was his cousin. Among his many siblings was Eleonora of Toledo, wife of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
He started his military career under the command of Andrea Doria
Andrea Doria
Andrea Doria was an Italian condottiere and admiral from Genoa.-Early life:Doria was born at Oneglia from the ancient Genoese family, the Doria di Oneglia branch of the old Doria, de Oria or de Auria family. His parents were related: Ceva Doria, co-lord of Oneglia, and Caracosa Doria, of the...
in the galleys of Naples, as commander of two ships. In 1535, already the commander of 6 galleys, he distinguished himself in the battles of La Goletta, Tunis
Conquest of Tunis
The Conquest of Tunis in 1535 was an attack on Tunis, then under the control of the Ottoman Empire, by the Spanish Empire.-Background:In 1533, Suleiman ordered Hayreddin Barbarossa, whom he had summoned from Algiers, to build a large war fleet in the arsenal of Constantinople...
, Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Sfax, Calibria y Mebredia. After this he was named Capitain General of the Galleys of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
He was Capitain General of the expedition to Greece, and Capitán General del Mar, a title he received in 1544 after having fought Hayreddin Barbarossa. He was Viceroy of Catalonia between 1558 and 1564. He then became Colonel General of the Infantry of Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
and finally, Viceroy of Sicily between 1564 and 1566.
As Viceroy of Sicily he accomplished his two greatest achievements: the conquest of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera , in ancient times Badis or Bades, is a Spanish rock in North Africa off the Moroccan coast . It is part of several Peñones, or rock-fortresses on the coast of Northern Africa. Vélez de la Gomera is administered from Melilla...
in 1564, and the relief of the Siege of Malta (1565)
Siege of Malta (1565)
The Siege of Malta took place in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire invaded the island, then held by the Knights Hospitaller .The Knights, together with between 4-5,000 Maltese men,...
. For this he received from King Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
the titles Duke of Fernandina and Prince of Montalbán on December 24, 1569.
He died at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
in 1577.
Marriage and children
On April 5, 1536 in Naples, the Duke married Doña Vittoria Colonna, daughter of Don Ascanio Colonna, 2nd Duke of Paliano, and Doña Juana de Aragón. They had 6 children:- Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 5th Marquis of Villafranca, and Grandee of Spain
- María de Toledo, married Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of AlbaFadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of AlbaFadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Guzmán, 4th Duke of Alba, Grandee of Spain, , , was a commander in the Spanish army during the Eighty Years' War....
- Juana de Toledo, married Bernardino Pimentel, 3rd Marquis of Távara.
- Leonor Álvarez de ToledoEleonora di Garzia di ToledoEleonora di Garzia di Toledo , more often known as "Leonora" or "Dianora", was the daughter of García Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Marquis of Villafranca, Duke of Fernandina, and the wife of Don Pietro de' Medici, a son of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany...
, married her cousin Pietro de' Medici, Prince of TuscanyTuscanyTuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence .... - Ana de Toledo, married Gómez Dávila, 3rd Marquis of Velada
- Inés de Toledo, married Juan Pacheco, 2nd Marquis of Cerralbo.
He also had two illegitimate children:
- Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, Señor de Gaipuli.
- Delia de Toledo, carmelite nun.
Ancestry
| García Álvarez de Toledo 4th Marquis of Villafranca |
Father: Pedro Álvarez de Toledo 2nd Marquis of Villafranca |
Paternal Grandfather: Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo 2nd Duke of Alba Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Duke of Alba Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez, 2nd Duke of Alba was a Spanish nobleman, military leader and politician.... |
Paternal Great-grandfather: García Álvarez de Toledo 1st Duke of Alba García Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Duke of Alba García Álvarez de Toledo y Carrillo, 1st Duke of Alba de Tormes was a Spanish nobleman, military leader and politician.... |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: María Enriquéz |
|||
| Paternal Grandmother: Isabel de Zuñiga y Pimentel |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Álvaro de Zuñiga Duke of Plasencia |
||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Leonor de Pimentel |
|||
| Mother: María Osorio Marchioness of Villafranca |
Maternal Grandfather: Luís de Pimentel 1st Marquis of Villafranca |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Rodrigo Alonso de Pimentel Duke of Benavente |
|
| Maternal Great-grandmother: María Pacheco |
|||
| Maternal Grandmother: Juana de Osorio y Bazán |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Pedro Álvarez de Osorio Count of Lemos |
||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: María de Bazán |