Jorge de Cárdenas y Manrique de Lara, 4th Duke of Maqueda facts for kids

Jorge de Cárdenas y Manrique de Lara was an important Spanish noble, soldier, and leader. He was born in Elche, Spain, on April 23, 1584, and passed away on October 30, 1644. He held important titles like the 4th Duke of Maqueda and the 6th Duke of Nájera. He served his country as a military commander and a statesman.

Early Life and Noble Titles

Jorge de Cárdenas was the son of Bernardino de Cárdenas y Portugal, who was the 3rd Duke of Maqueda. His mother was Luisa Manrique de Lara, the 5th Duchess of Nájera.

In 1601, Jorge inherited his father's titles. He also received his mother's title, becoming the Duke of Nájera. This made him a Grandee of Spain, which was a very high rank for a noble.

Important Roles and Leadership

In 1601, Jorge de Cárdenas served as the interim Viceroy of Sicily. A viceroy is like a governor who rules a country or region as a representative of the king.

Later, from 1616 to 1625, he was the Governor of Oran and Mazalquivir. These were important Spanish cities in North Africa at the time.

King Philip IV of Spain recognized his skills. The King made him the Captain General of the Armada, which meant he was a top commander of the Spanish navy. He also became a member of the State Council, advising the King on important matters.

Military Victories and Challenges

In August 1641, Jorge de Cárdenas was given command of a Spanish fleet. His mission was to break the French blockade of Tarragona, a city in Spain. He successfully led his fleet to victory in the Battle of Tarragona (August 1641).

However, in November 1641, he faced a challenge. He was chosen to lead a fleet from Cadiz to stop a Dutch fleet. But the governor of Cadiz, Juan Alonso Idiáquez, 2nd Duke of Ciudad Real, also wanted to lead. This disagreement led to a conflict where Cárdenas was injured. Idiáquez then took command of the fleet and won the Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1641). Both men were later disciplined by King Philip IV for their actions.

Family and Succession

In 1633, Jorge de Cárdenas married Isabel de la Cueva y Enriquez de Cabrera. She was the daughter of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 7th Duke of Alburquerque. They did not have any children.

After Jorge de Cárdenas passed away, his younger brother, Jaime Manuel de Cárdenas y Manrique de Lara, inherited his titles.

See also

In Spanish: Jorge de Cárdenas y Manrique de Lara para niños