Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (1585–1635) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba
Prince of Maratea
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Engraving of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba
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| Governor of the Duchy of Milan | |
| In office 1625–1629 |
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| Monarch | Philip IV of Spain |
| Preceded by | Gómez Suárez de Figueroa |
| Succeeded by | Ambrosio Spinola |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 December 1585 Cabra, Province of Córdoba, Spain |
| Died | 16 February 1635 (aged 49) Montalbán, Spain |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Spain |
| Battles/wars | |
Gonzalo Andrés Domingo Fernández de Córdoba (born December 31, 1585 – died February 16, 1635) was an important Spanish military leader. He fought in major conflicts like the Eighty Years' War, the Thirty Years' War, and the War of the Mantuan Succession.
Contents
Who Was Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba?
Gonzalo was born in Cabra, a town in what is now the Province of Córdoba, Spain. He was the third son of Antonio Fernández de Córdoba Cardona y Requesens, who was the Duke of Soma.
Gonzalo was also the great-grandson of another famous general, also named Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, known as the Great Captain. This shows that military leadership ran in his family!
Early Military Victories
Gonzalo became a key commander in the Catholic alliance. He worked with the Imperial general Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly. Together, they won important battles like Wimpfen and Höchst.
From 1621 to 1623, Gonzalo led parts of the Army of Flanders. He fought in the Palatinate region and in Flanders. He defeated Protestant forces from England and Germany in sieges at Bacharach and Heidelberg. He also defeated the Dutch at the Battle of Fleurus.
Titles and New Roles
In 1624, King Philip IV of Spain gave Gonzalo the special title of the first Prince of Maratea. Later, in 1630, Emperor Ferdinand II gave him the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
From 1625 to 1629, Gonzalo served as the Governor of the Duchy of Milan. This was an important role in a region controlled by Spain.
Challenges and Later Life
In 1628, Gonzalo took part in the War of the Mantuan Succession. He tried to capture a city called Casale and stop a French invasion, but he was not successful. Because of this, he was called back to Madrid in 1629. He faced a military trial, called a court-martial.
A few years later, Gonzalo was given his command back. In 1632, he was sent to the Netherlands. There, he led operations on the lower Rhine River. However, he could not stop Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange from capturing Maastricht.
Gonzalo was called back to Spain in 1633. He passed away in Montalbán in 1635. He was never married and had no children.
Fun Facts
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba is a character in a famous novel called The Betrothed. The author, Alessandro Manzoni, describes how angry the people of Milan were with Gonzalo when he left the city in 1629.
See also
In Spanish: Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona para niños
