Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart
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Photographed in Real Maestranza de Sevilla uniform, 1937
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| Foreign Minister of Spain | |
| In office 30 January 1930 – 18 February 1931 |
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| Monarch | Alfonso XIII |
| Prime Minister | Miguel Primo de Rivera |
| Preceded by | Miguel Primo de Rivera |
| Succeeded by | Álvaro de Figueroa |
| Seat j of the Real Academia Española | |
| In office 14 March 1943 – 24 September 1953 |
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| Preceded by | Manuel de Saralegui y Medina |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Laín Entralgo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó
17 October 1878 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 24 September 1953 (aged 74) Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Spouse | María del Rosario de Silva, Duchess of Alba |
| Children | Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba |
| Residence | Liria Palace |
| Medal record | ||
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| Men's Polo | ||
Representing  Spain |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 1920 Antwerp | Team competition |
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó (born October 17, 1878 – died September 24, 1953) was a very important Spanish nobleman. He was known as the 17th Duke of Alba and the 10th Duke of Berwick. He was also a Grandee, which is a special title for the highest-ranking nobles in Spain.
Jacobo was a diplomat, a politician, and an art collector. He even won an Olympic medal! He was a close friend of the British royal family and attended the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II in 1947. He was one of the most important aristocrats of his time in Spain.
Contents
Family and Early Life
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó was born on October 17, 1878, in Liria Palace in Madrid, Spain. He was the first son of Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart, the 16th Duke of Alba. His mother was María del Rosario Falcó.
On October 7, 1920, he married Maria del Rosario de Silva. She was also a very important noblewoman with many titles and a large family fortune. They had one daughter together, named Cayetana. She later inherited all of the family's titles and wealth.
Jacobo started his education with private teachers at home. Later, he went to schools in England, first Beaumont College and then Eton College. After returning to Spain, he studied at the Universidad Central de Madrid and earned a degree in Law.
A Career in Diplomacy and Politics
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart served as a special assistant to the young King Alfonso XIII of Spain. In 1902, he received a special honor, the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, from the Duke of Connaught, a member of the British royal family.
From 1930 to 1931, Jacobo served as the Foreign Minister of Spain. This meant he was in charge of Spain's relationships with other countries.
During the Spanish Civil War, which was a difficult time in Spain, his family's home, the Liria Palace, was taken over. Sadly, his younger brother, Hernando, also died during this conflict.
Later, Jacobo became the official representative for General Franco's government in London. He was the ambassador there in 1939 when Britain officially recognized Franco's government. During World War II, he continued to send important reports about British politics back to Spain. These reports were so good that some people worried they might be shared with Germany.
After the war, Jacobo's relationship with Franco became less friendly. Jacobo wanted Spain to bring back its monarchy (a king or queen) much sooner than Franco did.
Olympic Achievement
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart was also a talented athlete. He won a silver medal in polo at the 1920 Summer Olympics, which were held in Antwerp, Belgium.
Honors and Titles
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart received many important honors during his life:
- 1902: Knight Grand Cross Royal Victorian Order
- 1925: Grand Cordon Order of Leopold (from Belgium)
- 1926: Knight Order of the Golden Fleece (a very high honor in Spain)
Main Titles
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart held many noble titles. Here are some of the most important ones:
- 17th Duke of Alba, Grandee of Spain
- 10th Duke of Berwick, Grandee of Spain
- 10th Duke of Liria and Jérica, Grandee of Spain
- 17th Marquess of Carpio, Grandee of Spain
- 21st Count of Lemos, Grandee of Spain
- 19th Count of Lerín, Grandee of Spain
Styles
- When he was young, he was known as The Most Excellent The Duke of Huéscar (from 1878 to 1901).
- Later, he was known as The Most Excellent The Duke of Alba de Tormes (from 1901 until his death in 1953).
Images for kids
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Portrait by Maurice Fromkes, 1925
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The Duke of Alba and Winston Churchill, his distant cousin, during a polo match in Casa de Campo, Madrid, 1914
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Coat of arms of Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó as Duke of Alba
.svg)
See also
In Spanish: Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó para niños
