Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart, 16th Duke of Alba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Excellent Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart 16th Duke of Alba GE (more...)
circa 1870
Born	(1849-12-04)4 December 1849 Madrid, Spain
Died	15 October 1901(1901-10-15) (aged 51) New York, United States
Spouse(s)	Maria del Rosario (22nd Countess of Siruela)
Children	Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba Eugenia Sol María del Pilar, Duchess of Santoña Hernando Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duke of Peñaranda de Duero
Parents	Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 15th Duke of Alba (father) María Francisca de Sales Portocarrero, 16th Duchess of Peñaranda (mother)
Family	House of Alba branch of Fitz-James Stuart

Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart y Palafox (born December 4, 1849 – died October 15, 1901) was an important Spanish nobleman and diplomat. He held many important titles, including the 16th Duke of Alba and 9th Duke of Berwick.

Life of a Spanish Nobleman

The 16th Duke of Alba aged 11 in uniform of the War of Africa, 1860

Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart was born in Madrid, Spain. He was the only son of Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 15th Duke of Alba. His mother, Maria Francesca, was the daughter of the Duke of Peñaranda. She was also the sister of Eugénie de Montijo, who became the Empress of the French.

Early Life and Titles

While his father was still alive, Carlos was known as the Duke of Huéscar. When he was just 10 years old, in 1860, he inherited many titles from his mother. Later, in 1881, he inherited most of his father's titles too. Because of these inheritances, he became a Grandee of the first class twelve times over. A Grandee was a very high-ranking noble in Spain.

Carlos also claimed the English title of Duke of Berwick. He used this title when he visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Family Life

In 1877, Carlos married Maria del Rosario in Madrid. She was the 22nd Countess of Siruela and also a Grandee of the first class. Together, they had three children:

• Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba
• Eugenia Sol María del Pilar, who married the Duke of Santoña and became a Lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria Eugenia.
• Hernando Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duke of Peñaranda de Duero.

Education and Career

Like his father, Carlos studied at Salamanca University in Spain and at a military school in Paris, France. He had an important career as a diplomat, representing Spain in other countries.

He served as the Spanish Ambassador in Brussels from 1872 to 1878. After that, he was the Ambassador in Saint Petersburg (Russia) until 1885. From 1887 to 1894, he was the Grand Treasurer of Spain and a diplomat in Istanbul (Turkey).

In 1895, he helped start the Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro. This was a famous club founded with other important Spanish nobles and King Alfonso XIII of Spain.

Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart was also a Senator of the Kingdom. He was a Chamberlain to the Queen Regent Christina and a Knight of the Golden Fleece. He passed away in New York in 1901, at the age of 51, while serving as the Spanish Ambassador to the United States. He died from cancer aboard Sir Thomas Lipton's yacht.

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