Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, 1st Duke of Feria facts for kids
Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, the 1st Duke of Feria (born around 1520, died 1571), was an important Spanish nobleman and diplomat. He was a very trusted advisor to King Philip II of Spain.
He was probably born in Zafra, a town in Extremadura, Spain. He was the second son of Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, who was the 3rd Count of Feria, and Catalina Fernandez de Córdoba.
Contents
A Life of Service and Diplomacy
Becoming a Count and Royal Advisor
In 1551, Gómez became the 5th Count of Feria after his older brother, Pedro, passed away. Just a few years later, in 1554, he traveled with Philip of Spain to England. This trip was for King Philip's marriage to Queen Mary I.
Gómez Suárez de Figueroa served as the Captain of the King's Guard. This was a very important role, showing how much the king trusted him. Many people believed he was one of the king's most trusted advisors, second only to Ruy Gómez.
Fighting for the King
He also took part in military actions. He fought against a rebellion in an area known as the Low Countries (which today includes parts of Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg). He was involved in a major battle called the Battle of St Quentin in 1557.
Ambassador to England
After Elizabeth I became Queen of England, Gómez Suárez de Figueroa served as King Philip's ambassador there. An ambassador is like a country's representative in another country. He held this important diplomatic role until May 1559, when Bishop Álvaro de la Quadra took over.
Marriage and Supporting Catholics
On December 29, 1558, Feria married Lady Jane Dormer. She had been a maid-of-honour (a lady who attends a queen) to Queen Mary I. Their marriage was unusual because both their families initially did not approve of it.
Feria and his wife were very dedicated to helping English Catholics who had to leave England. They wanted to make sure these exiles were safe and supported. Feria also supported a plan in 1571 that aimed to help English Catholics.
Becoming a Duke
In 1567, King Philip II recognized Gómez Suárez de Figueroa's loyalty and service. The king honored him by making him the 1st Duke of Feria. This was a very high title of nobility.
Later Life and Legacy
After his time as ambassador, Feria returned to Spain. There, he continued to serve King Philip II as a royal chamberlain. A chamberlain is a high-ranking official who manages the royal household.
Gómez Suárez de Figueroa passed away in 1571. He was buried in the Convent of Santa Clara in Zafra, his probable birthplace.
His oldest and only surviving son, Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, took over his titles. Lorenzo also became an important diplomat, serving as an ambassador and later as a viceroy (a ruler acting as a king's representative) in Naples. Feria's younger son, Don Gomez, who was a governor in Milan, sadly passed away before his father.
