Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, 2nd Duke of Feria facts for kids

The Duke of Feria in 1602 by Daniel Dumonstier

Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa y Dormer, 2nd Duke of Feria (1559–1607) was an important Spanish nobleman. He held the title of Duke of Feria, which he inherited from his father.

Lorenzo was the son of Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, 1st Duke of Feria and Jane Dormer. His mother, Jane Dormer, was an English lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary I. Lorenzo became the Duke of Feria when he was only 12 years old, after his father passed away.

Who Was Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa?

Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa was a key figure in Spanish history during the late 1500s and early 1600s. He served his country in many important roles, both as a diplomat and as a governor. He was known for his leadership and for helping to protect Spanish territories.

Early Life and Family

Lorenzo was born in Mechelen, a city in what is now Belgium. He later passed away in Naples, Italy.

He married twice during his life. His first marriage was in 1577 to Isabel de Cárdenas. Later, in 1586, he married Isabel de Mendoza. His second wife, Isabel de Mendoza, gave birth to his only son who survived. This son, named Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, later became the 3rd Duke of Feria, taking over his father's title.

Serving as an Ambassador

Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa played an important role as a diplomat for Spain. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country. His job was to build good relationships and discuss important matters between nations.

• From 1591 to 1592, he served as the Spanish ambassador in Rome, Italy.
• From 1593 to 1595, he was the Spanish ambassador in France.

Governing as a Viceroy

After his time as an ambassador, Lorenzo took on even bigger responsibilities as a viceroy. A viceroy is a governor who rules a country or province as the representative of a king or queen.

• From 1596 to 1602, he was the Viceroy of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain.
• From 1603 to 1607, he served as the Viceroy of Sicily, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Protecting Sicily

While he was the Viceroy of Sicily, Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa focused on making the island's defenses stronger. This was important because the island faced attacks from the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans were a powerful empire that controlled much of southeastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East at the time.

Lorenzo successfully strengthened Sicily's defenses against these attacks. He also led military actions, including bombing and raiding campaigns, against cities like Algiers, Tunis, Misrata, and Tripoli. These actions helped protect Spanish interests and territories in the region.

See also

In Spanish: Lorenzo IV Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba para niños