Duke of Alba

Duke of Alba de Tormes (Spanish: Duque de Alba de Tormes), commonly known as Duke of Alba, is a title of Spanish nobility that is accompanied by the dignity of Grandee of Spain.[1] In 1472, the title of Count of Alba de Tormes, inherited by García Álvarez de Toledo, was elevated to the title of Duke of Alba de Tormes by King Henry IV of Castile.[2]

"Duchess of Alba" redirects here. For the late Duchess, see Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba.
"Dukedom of Alba" redirects here. Not to be confused with Kingdom of Alba.
For the 16th-century governor of the Spanish-ruled Low Countries, see Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba.

Dukedom of Alba de Tormes
Creation date1472
Created byHenry IV of Castile
PeerageSpain
First holderGarcía Álvarez de Toledo y Carrillo de Toledo, 2nd Count of Alba de Tormes
Present holderCarlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 19th Duke of Alba de Tormes[1]
Heir apparentFernando Fitz-James Stuart y Solís, 15th Duke of Huéscar
Seat(s)
Former seat(s)Castle of the Dukes of Alba (Alba de Tormes)
Palace of the Dukes of Alba (Ávila)
Standard of the Dukedom of Alba

History

The dukedom of Alba de Tormes is one of the most significant noble titles of Spain and gives its name to the House of Alba. Over the centuries, members of three distinct family dynasties have held the title in succession – the House of Álvarez de Toledo, the House of Silva (extinct in 1802) and the House of Fitz-James Stuart, which descends from an illegitimate son of King James II of England.

Famous holders of this dukedom include Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, governor of the Spanish Netherlands (references to "Alba" (or "Alva" in Dutch), particularly in the context of Dutch history, are usually about him), and Doña María del Pilar de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba, a muse of the painter Francisco Goya. When they first met, Francisco Goya was much older than the Duchess of Alba. Goya was in his late 40s and the Duchess was in her early 30s.[3]

Various dukes have married into the families of Christopher Columbus and Cosimo de Medici, as well as the line of the Dukes of Berwick, making them distant relatives of the Earls Spencer and the Dukes of Marlborough.

Today, the ducal family of Alba retains a large and valuable collection of art and historic documents. The largest part of this treasure is kept at the main residence of the family in Madrid, the Liria Palace.

Lords of Alba de Tormes (1429)

Counts of Alba de Tormes (1439)

Dukes of Alba de Tormes (1472)
Arms of the Dukes of Alba of the House of Álvarez de Toledo
Arms of the Dukes of Alba of the House of Fitz-James Stuart

References
  1. Boletín Oficial del Estado: no. 143, p. 50250, 16 June 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015 (in Spanish).
  2. Hidalgos de España (2018). p. 36
  3. Siroid, Elena (3 December 2018). "Love Story in Paintings: Francisco Goya and María Cayetana de Silva, the Duchess of Alba". Arthive. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  4. Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo

Bibliography
  • Hidalgos de España, Real Asociación de (2018). Elenco de Grandezas y Títulos Nobiliarios Españoles. Ediciones Hidalguía. ISBN 978-84-94841-02-6.
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