Diego Enríquez de Guzmán facts for kids
Diego Enríquez de Guzmán (born around 1530, died 1604) was an important Spanish nobleman. He held the title of the 5th Count of Alba de Liste. He was a powerful leader who served as the Viceroy of Sicily from 1585 to 1591. Later in his life, in the year 1600, he became a special knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece, which was a very prestigious honor.
Contents
Who Was Diego Enríquez de Guzmán?
Diego Enríquez de Guzmán was the son of Enrique Enriquez, who was the 4th Count of Alba de Liste. His mother was Maria Alvarez de Toledo y Pimentel. Maria's father was Garcia Alvarez de Toledo, 2nd duke of Alba. This means Diego came from a very important and noble family in Spain.
His Family and Important Relatives
Diego's mother, Maria, was related to a very famous and powerful figure in Spanish history: Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba. This duke was known as "The Iron Duke" because he was a very strong and determined military leader. He was Diego's maternal half-uncle. The 3rd Duke of Alba married Maria Enriquez, who was Diego's aunt (his father's sister). This shows how closely connected these powerful noble families were in Spain.
A Powerful Leader: Viceroy of Sicily
One of Diego Enríquez de Guzmán's most important roles was being the Viceroy of Sicily. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a region or country in the name of the king. Sicily was an important island in the Mediterranean Sea, and Diego was in charge of governing it for the Spanish king for six years, from 1585 to 1591. This was a very responsible and powerful position.
The Title of Count of Alba de Liste
Diego Enríquez de Guzmán held the title of the 5th Count of Alba de Liste. This title was first given in the mid-1400s to Enrique Enriquez y Mendoza. A "count" is a noble title, often associated with owning land or a specific region.
Where is Alba de Liste?
Alba de Liste, also known as Alba de Aliste, is a place in Spain. It's located in the province of Zamora. Today, the old castle of Alba de Liste is mostly in ruins, but it was once an important place connected to Diego's family. It is near a small town called Losacino.
How the Title Was Passed Down
Diego Enríquez de Guzmán married a woman named Maria de Urrea. However, it seems they did not have any sons who grew up to inherit the title. After Diego, the title of Count of Alba de Liste passed to his uncle, Fadrique Enriquez, who became the 6th Count.
Over time, the title of Count of Alba de Liste was passed down through different branches of the family. There were sometimes legal arguments about who should inherit the title. This was common for important noble titles back then.
Another Famous Count: Luis Enríquez de Guzmán
One notable person who later held the title was Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, 9th Count of Alba de Liste (born around 1610, died around 1680). He was also a very important leader, serving as the Viceroy of Mexico from 1650 to 1653 and then as the 17th Viceroy of Peru from 1655 to 1661. These were huge responsibilities, showing the continued importance of the Alba de Liste family.
Eventually, the title passed through several more families, including the "Fernández de Velasco" family (Dukes of Frías) and the "Téllez-Girón" family (Dukes of Osuna), and later the "Martorell" and "Viñamata" families through marriages.
See also
In Spanish: Diego Enríquez de Guzmán (virrey de Sicilia) para niños
- Viceroy of Sicily
- List of Knights of the Golden Fleece
