Alonso Pérez 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 1550 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 a Spanish nobleman. He is best known for leading the Spanish Armada, a large fleet of ships sent to attack England in 1588.
Contents
Family and Early Life
Alonso's father, Juan Carlos Pérez de Guzmán, passed away in 1556. This was before his own father, Juan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán, 6th Duke of Medina Sidonia, died. 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 was a very rich and powerful woman. Her family name, Zúñiga, was passed down because her family had more important titles.
When Alonso's grandfather died in 1559, Alonso was only about nine years old. He inherited the title of Duke and became one of the wealthiest people in Europe.
Marriage
In 1565, Alonso was betrothed to Ana de Silva y Mendoza. She was only four years old at the time. Her parents were the Prince and Princess of Éboli. In 1572, when Ana was just over ten, the pope allowed their marriage to be completed.
There were rumors that King Philip II of Spain was interested in Ana's mother, the Princess of Éboli. Some people thought the king showed special kindness to the Duke because he cared for the young girl. However, no proof of any secret relationship between the king and the princess was ever found.
Alonso and Ana had a son named Juan Manuel Pérez de Guzmán, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia. Juan Manuel later became the 8th Duke after his father.
Alonso was made a knight of the Golden Fleece in 1581. He was also named Captain General of Lombardy, a region in Italy. However, he asked the king to be excused from this role. He said he was too poor and had bad health.
Alonso also supported Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza. Carranza wrote an important book about the Spanish way of sword fighting, called the Verdadera Destreza.
Spanish Armada
Getting Ready
When the previous commander, the Marquis of Santa Cruz, died in 1588, King Philip II chose Alonso to lead the Armada. The king had already decided this even before Santa Cruz died.
Historians believe Philip chose Alonso because he was from a very high social class. He was also good at managing things, modest, and a strong Catholic. The king liked that Alonso would likely follow his orders exactly.
Alonso himself wrote to the king, saying he was not the best choice. He pointed out that he had no military experience on land or at sea. He also said he didn't know much about the English enemy or Spain's war plans. He mentioned his poor health and that he often got sea-sickness. He also said he couldn't pay for the expedition himself. However, the king's secretaries did not show this letter to Philip.
Some historians think Alonso didn't believe the Armada would succeed. This might be why he tried to refuse the command. He even suggested making peace or delaying the mission.
Despite his doubts, Alonso worked hard to prepare the Armada. He organized the fleet better. He made sure the ships had enough supplies and guns. He also got permission to add more powerful ships to the Armada. This greatly increased its fighting strength. Under his command, the ships were in much better condition, and there were enough sailors. He also got permission for his men to stay on land sometimes, which helped their health and spirits. Alonso built good relationships with his officers and gathered supplies right up until they sailed.
Leading the Fleet
Alonso's actions as a fleet commander during the battles with the English have been criticized more. Since he lacked military experience, he didn't take many risks. He carefully followed the king's orders and listened to his advisors. His main advisor, Diego Flores de Valdes, was also very cautious.
Alonso also greatly underestimated how hard it would be to work with Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. Parma was supposed to bring his invasion fleet from the Netherlands to meet the Armada at sea. This problem was a big part of the plan that King Philip II had created.
Even with his lack of experience, Alonso fought bravely and smartly. The campaign took a heavy toll on his health. After returning to Spain, the king finally allowed him to go home and recover. He continued to serve the Spanish crown for another twenty years in different roles.
Alonso's reputation suffered because some popular stories blamed him entirely for the defeat. However, many historians now believe King Philip II was more to blame. This is because he made a plan that was very difficult to carry out. Philip II himself did not blame Alonso for the defeat. Alonso kept his important titles and continued to serve King Philip II and later King Philip III.
Later stories often showed the Duke of Medina Sidonia as a foolish and cowardly person. One English story even claimed he hid below decks in a special room. This idea became a popular part of the Armada story, but it was likely just propaganda.
Later Years
In 1596, an English fleet attacked Cádiz. Alonso's slow response was blamed for allowing the English to take over the city.
In 1606, Alonso's stubbornness led to the loss of a group of ships near Gibraltar. The Dutch destroyed them. This event made him a target for jokes by the famous writer Miguel de Cervantes.
Images for kids
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Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia
See also
In Spanish: Alonso de Guzmán y Sotomayor para niños
