Fadrique Alvarez de Toledo y Ponce de León facts for kids
Fadrique de Toledo Osorio and Ponce de León (born in Madrid on February 27, 1635 – died in Madrid on June 9, 1705) was an important Spanish noble, soldier, and politician. He held many impressive titles, including the 7th Marquess of Villafranca del Bierzo and the 4th Duke of Fernandina. He was also a Grandee of Spain, which meant he was one of the highest-ranking nobles in the country.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Fadrique was born after his father, also named Fadrique de Toledo, passed away in December 1634. His mother was Elvira Ponce de León. When his uncle, García Álvarez de Toledo Osorio, died in 1648, young Fadrique inherited many of his family's important titles. This made him the 7th Marquess of Villafranca del Bierzo and the 4th Duke of Fernandina, among others. In 1654, he married Manuela de Córdoba y Cardona. Together, they had six children: four sons and two daughters.
A Career in the Military
Fadrique de Toledo Osorio chose a career in the military. His first big role came in 1663 when he became the Captain General of the Galleys of Sicily. This meant he was in charge of a fleet of warships in Sicily.
In 1667, he took part in a military operation to help lift the Siege of Candia against the Turks. This mission was not successful. However, his career continued to advance. In 1670, he was appointed Captain General of the Galleys of Naples, taking charge of another important naval fleet.
Important Political Roles
Fadrique was also a skilled politician. In 1671, he served as the temporary Viceroy of Naples when the main Viceroy was away. A Viceroy was like a governor who ruled a region in the name of the king. He did a good job in this role.
After returning to Spain, he was offered the chance to become the Viceroy of New Spain (which is now Mexico), but he turned it down. Two years later, from 1673 to 1676, he became the Viceroy of Sicily. During this time, he had to deal with the Messina revolt, a major uprising in the city of Messina.
In 1676, he became the General Lieutenant of the Sea. Soon after, he achieved a very important position: Captain General of the Ocean. This made him one of the most powerful naval commanders in Spain. Later in 1698, he was appointed president of the Council of Italy, a group that advised the king on matters related to Italy.
Supporting the King
Fadrique de Toledo Osorio was always very close to the Spanish royal family. He even accompanied Infanta Margarita to her wedding with Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.
During the Spanish War of Succession, a big conflict over who would be the next king of Spain, Fadrique strongly supported Philippe de Anjou. When Philippe became King Philip V of Spain, he rewarded Fadrique for his loyalty. In 1701, Fadrique was made the King's Mayordomo mayor, a very high position in the royal household. He also became a minister in the Junta de Gobierno (a governing council) in 1702. The King also made him a Knight of the French Order of the Holy Spirit and a Knight of the Order of Santiago, which were both very prestigious honors.
Sources
- Real Academia de la Historia.
See also
In Spanish: Fadrique de Toledo Osorio y Ponce de León para niños
