Alonso de Guzmán y Sotomayor, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Medina Sidonia
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Portrayed wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece, c. 1612
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| Born | 10 September 1569 Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, Crown of Castile, Spain |
| Died | 26 July 1615 (aged 64) Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, Castile, Spain |
| Allegiance |  Spain |
| Service/ |
 Spanish Navy |
| Rank | Captain-General of the Ocean Sea Captain-General of the Coast of Andalusia |
| Commands held | Invasion of England ('the Spanish Armada') |
| Battles/wars | Cadiz Gravelines (Anglo–Spanish War (1585–1604)) |
Alonso Pérez de Guzmán y de Zúñiga-Sotomayor, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia (born September 10, 1550 – died July 26, 1615) was an important Spanish nobleman. He is best known for leading the Spanish Armada. This was a large fleet of ships sent by Spain to attack England in 1588.
Contents
Family and Early Life
Alonso's grandfather was Juan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán, 6th Duke of Medina Sidonia. His father, Juan Carlos, died before his own father. This meant Juan Carlos never became a duke.
Alonso's grandmother was Ana de Aragón y de Gurrea. She was related to King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Alonso's mother was Leonor de Zúñiga y Sotomayor. She came from a very rich and powerful family.
Because his father had already passed away, Alonso inherited the title of Duke when his grandfather died in 1559. He was only about nine years old at the time. He also inherited one of the biggest fortunes in all of Europe.
Marriage and Royal Connections
In 1569, Alonso was betrothed to Ana de Silva y Mendoza. She was only four years old. Her parents were the Prince and Princess of Éboli. In 1572, the Pope gave special permission for their marriage to be completed. The Duke of Medina Sidonia and Ana later had a son named Juan Manuel. Juan Manuel later became the next Duke.
King Philip II of Spain showed great favor to the Duke. In 1581, Alonso became a knight of the Golden Fleece. He was also named Captain General of Lombardy. He worked hard to serve the king. Alonso also supported Don Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza. Carranza wrote an important book about Spanish sword fighting.
The Spanish Armada
Why Alonso Led the Armada
The original commander of the Spanish Armada, the Marquis of Santa Cruz, died in 1588. King Philip II then chose the 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia to lead the fleet. The King likely chose him because of his high social rank and good reputation. Philip II wanted a commander who would follow his orders exactly.
Alonso himself was worried about leading the Armada. He wrote to the King, explaining that he had little military experience. He also mentioned he didn't know much about the English enemy or the war plans. He even said he often got seasick. However, the King's secretaries did not show this letter to Philip II.
Preparing the Fleet
Despite his worries, Alonso worked very hard to get the Armada ready. He organized the ships and made sure they had enough supplies. He improved how guns and ammunition were distributed. He also got permission to let sailors rest on land. This helped improve the health and morale of the fleet. Alonso also built good relationships with his officers.
Leading the Armada in Battle
During the battles with the English, Alonso faced many challenges. He lacked experience in leading a large fleet in combat. He followed the King's instructions carefully. He also listened to his main advisor, Diego Flores de Valdes, who was very cautious. It was also very hard to coordinate with the Spanish forces in the Netherlands. This was a major problem with the King's overall plan.
Even with these difficulties, Alonso fought bravely and smartly. The campaign took a toll on his health. After the Armada returned to Spain, the King allowed him to go home and recover. Alonso continued to serve the Spanish crown for many more years.
Some people blamed Alonso for the Armada's defeat. However, many historians now believe King Philip II was more responsible. This was because he created a plan that was very difficult to carry out. Philip II himself did not blame Alonso. The Duke kept his important positions and continued to serve both Philip II and later King Philip III.
Later Years
In 1596, an English fleet attacked Cádiz. Some people blamed Alonso for being too slow to respond. This allowed the English to take over the city for a short time.
In 1606, a Spanish squadron was lost near Gibraltar because of Alonso's actions.
See Also
In Spanish: Alonso de Guzmán y Sotomayor para niños
- Duke of Medina Sidonia
- Medina Sidonia
