Antonio Ponce de León, 11th Duke of Arcos facts for kids

A marble statue from 1783 of the 12th Duke of Arcos.

Antonio Ponce de León y Spínola (born October 3, 1726 – died December 13, 1780) was a very important Spanish nobleman and army officer. He held the title of the 11th Duke of Arcos. Antonio was known for being incredibly rich. At one point, he was the biggest employer in Western Europe, with over 3,000 people working for him!

Antonio's Early Life and Family

Antonio Ponce de León was born in Madrid, Spain, on October 3, 1726. He was the youngest son in his family. His father was Joaquín Ponce de León y Lancaster, who held many important titles, including the 7th Duke of Arcos. His mother was Ana María Spínola y de la Cerda.

Antonio came from a family with a long history. His ancestors included members of royal families from different parts of Europe. This meant his family had a lot of power and influence.

Becoming a Duke and Army Officer

Antonio started his career as an army officer. He served in Italy for some time. In 1752, he returned to Spain. There, he joined the Spanish Royal Company of Corps Guards as a captain.

A few years later, in December 1763, something important happened. All three of his older brothers had passed away in battle. None of them had children to inherit their titles. Because of this, Antonio became the 11th Duke of Arcos. He also inherited many other important titles, like the 18th Duke of Nájera.

The next year, King Charles III of Spain gave him a special award. It was called the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1772, Antonio was made a Captain General of the Royal Spanish Armies. This was a very high rank in the military. He continued to lead the Corps Guards at the same time.

Marriage and Family Legacy

On January 1, 1778, Antonio married Mariana de Silva-Bazán y Sarmiento. She was the mother of a very famous woman named María Cayetana de Silva, the 13th Duchess of Alba. Antonio and Mariana did not have any children together.

Antonio Ponce de León passed away on December 13, 1780. Since he had no sons, the main family line of the House of Ponce de León ended with him. His titles and family wealth then passed to other noble families. These included the House of Benavente and later the House of Osuna.

See Also

In Spanish: Antonio Ponce de León para niños

• List of dukes in the peerage of Spain
• Mariano Téllez-Girón
• Vicente Pío Osorio de Moscoso