Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart
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| Duchess of Alba (more...) | |
Cayetana Duchess of Alba in 2005
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| Full name |
María del Rosario Cayetana Paloma Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Fernanda Teresa Francisca de Paula Lourdes Antonia Josefa Fausta Rita Castor Dorotea Santa Esperanza Fitz-James Stuart, Silva, Falcó y Gurtubay
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| Born | 28 March 1926 Liria Palace, Madrid, Spain |
| Baptised | 18 April 1926 Royal Chapel, Royal Palace of Madrid |
| Died | 20 November 2014 (aged 88) Palace of the Dukes of Alba, Seville, Spain |
| Noble family | Alba branch of Fitz-James Stuart |
| Spouse(s) |
Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz
(m. 1947; died 1972)Alfonso Díez Carabantes
(m. 2011) |
| Issue | Five sons, one daughter |
| Father | Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba |
| Mother | María del Rosario de Silva, 9th Marchioness of San Vicente del Barco |
| Signature |  |
María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva (born March 28, 1926 – died November 20, 2014) was a very important noblewoman in Spain. She was known as the 18th Duchess of Alba. She held more noble titles than anyone else in the world during her lifetime. This means she had many different official titles passed down through her family.
Contents
Her Family and Early Life
Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart was born in Liria Palace in Madrid, Spain, on March 28, 1926. She was the only child of the 17th Duke of Alba, Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart. Her father was a well-known Spanish politician and diplomat. Her mother was María del Rosario de Silva y Gurtubay.
Cayetana had a very old family tree. She was a direct descendant of James II of England, who was a king many centuries ago. Her godmother was Queen Victoria Eugenie, the wife of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
A Life in the Spotlight
As a socialite, Cayetana was someone who was often seen at important social events. She met many famous people from Spain and other countries. For example, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the wife of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, visited her palace in Seville. Other famous visitors included Wallis Simpson, Grace Kelly, and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
In 1959, the Duchess helped organize a fashion show for charity at her Liria Palace in Madrid. The famous designer Yves Saint Laurent was involved. Movie stars like Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, and Audrey Hepburn also visited her palace. When she was younger, the Duchess was photographed by famous artists like Richard Avedon. She even appeared on the covers of magazines like Time and Harper's Bazaar. In 2011, she was added to Vanity Fair's list of the best-dressed people.
Her Marriages
Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart was married three times during her life.
First Marriage and Children
On October 12, 1947, the Duchess married Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz. He was the son of the Duke of Sotomayor. Their wedding in Spain was a huge event. It happened just two years after World War II ended. Many people from around the world paid attention to it. The New York Times newspaper even called it "the most expensive wedding of the world."
Cayetana and Luis had six children together:
- Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 19th Duke of Alba (born 1948)
- Alfonso Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart (born 1950)
- Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo (born 1954)
- Fernando Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart (born 1959)
- Cayetano Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart (born 1963)
- Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, 12th Duchess of Montoro (born 1968)
Second Marriage
Luis Martínez de Irujo died in 1972. The Duchess then married Jesús Aguirre on March 16, 1978. He was a scholar and had been a priest before. He was eight years younger than the Duchess. He got along well with her children. During their marriage, he helped manage the family's properties. Jesús Aguirre passed away in 2001.
Third Marriage
After being a widow again, the Duchess wanted to marry Alfonso Díez Carabantes. He was a civil servant and had his own public relations business. He was 24 years younger than her. Before their wedding, the Duchess decided to give her children their inheritance. This included many grand palaces in Spain, valuable paintings, and important historical documents. Her wealth was estimated to be very large. Alfonso Díez Carabantes officially said he would not claim any of her wealth.
They were married on October 5, 2011, at the Palacio de las Dueñas in Seville. The Duchess loved flamenco music and dance. After the wedding, she famously performed a few quick flamenco steps for the crowds gathered outside the palace.
Her Passing
The Duchess of Alba died at the Palacio de las Dueñas on November 20, 2014. She was 88 years old. Her oldest son, Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, became the 19th Duke of Alba after her.
Her body was placed at the Town Hall in Seville. Thousands of people came to pay their respects. The King of Spain, King Felipe VI, called her son to offer his condolences. The mayor of Seville announced that the city's flags would be lowered in mourning. Her funeral was held at Seville Cathedral.
Many Titles and Honors
Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart was the head of her noble family. She was known as the "Duchess of Alba." She held more than 40 other official titles that were passed down through her family. According to Guinness World Records, she had more noble titles than anyone else in the world.
Some of Her Main Titles
- Dukedoms
- 18th Duchess of Alba
- 11th Duchess of Berwick
- 11th Duchess of Liria and Jérica
- Count-dukedoms
- 12th Countess-Duchess of Olivares
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- Marquessates
- 17th Marchioness of the Carpio
- 10th Marchioness of San Vicente del Barco
- Countships
- 27th Countess of Aranda
- 22nd Countess of Lemos
- 20th Countess of Lerín
- 20th Countess of Miranda del Castañar
- 16th Countess of Monterrey
- 20th Countess of Osorno
- 22nd Countess of Siruela
Special Honors
The Duchess received many awards and honors from Spain and other countries. These show her importance and contributions.
- National honors (from Spain)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
- Knight Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise
- Recipient of the Medal of Andalusia
- Foreign honors (from other countries)
- Greek royal family: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Beneficence (from Greece)
- Japan: Wisteria Dame of the Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class (from Japan)
- Honorary appointments
- Marshal of Castilla-La Mancha
- Constable of Aragon
- Honorary President of the Spanish Red Cross
Images for kids
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Signature of Cayetana, Duchess of Alba
See also
In Spanish: Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart para niños
