Alberto Octavio Tserclaes de Tilly facts for kids
Alberto Octavio Tserclaes de Tilly (also known as Antonio) was an important Spanish general. He was born in 1646 and passed away on September 10, 1715. He came from a family with roots in Wallonia, a region in modern-day Belgium. His family was well-known, as his great-uncle, Johann Tserclaes Count of Tilly, was a famous general during the Thirty Years' War.
Contents
Life and Military Career
Becoming a Prince and General
In 1693, King Charles II of Spain gave Alberto Octavio the special title of prince. This was a high honor, showing his importance to the kingdom.
He played a big part in the Spanish War of Succession, which lasted from 1701 to 1714. This war was about who would become the next king of Spain. Alberto Octavio supported the young French prince, who later became King Philip V of Spain. They fought against Charles VI of Austria from the Habsburg family.
Fighting in Portugal
In 1704, Alberto Octavio was involved in a military campaign in Portugal. He led his troops along the left side of the river Tagus. During this time, he successfully captured the city of Portalegre. He also helped to secure the Alentejo region for Spain. Meanwhile, King Philip V and another general, James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, advanced on the other side of the river.
A Grandee of Spain
In 1705, there was a secret plan where a general named Diego Dávila Mesía y Guzmán decided to support Charles of Austria. Alberto Octavio quickly found out about this and told the main Spanish government.
Because of his help, King Philip V gave him another special title in 1706. He became a Grandee of Spain. This was a very high rank for a noble. It even gave him the special right to stay seated or keep his hat on when he was in the presence of the King or Queen.
Important Government Roles
Alberto Octavio also held several important government positions. From 1706 to 1709, he served as the Viceroy of Navarre. A viceroy was like a governor, ruling a region in the name of the king. Later, from 1711 to 1714, he was the Captain General of Aragon. A Captain General was a top military commander in a specific region.
In 1714, he was given the role of Captain General of Catalonia, taking over from General FitzJames. He passed away in Barcelona the following year.
See also
In Spanish: Alberto Octavio T'Serclaes de Tilly para niños
