Luis Francisco de la Cerda, 9th Duke of Medinaceli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Duke of Medinaceli
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Don Luis by Jacob Ferdinand Voet
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| Born | 2 August 1660 |
| Died | 26 January 1711 (aged 50) |
| Title | 9th Duke of Medinaceli |
| Parent(s) | Don Juan Francisco de la Cerda and Doña Catalina de Aragón Folc de Cardona y Córdoba |
Luis Francisco de la Cerda y Aragón (born August 2, 1660, in El Puerto de Santa María – died January 26, 1711, in Pamplona) was an important Spanish noble and politician. He held the title of the 9th Duke of Medinaceli.
A Powerful Spanish Noble
Luis Francisco was the oldest son of Don Juan Francisco de la Cerda and Doña Catalina de Aragón Folc de Cardona y Córdoba. His father was a very trusted advisor to the king, sometimes called a Valido.
From his father, Luis inherited many important titles. These included Duke of Medinaceli and Duke of Alcalá de los Gazules. From his mother, he received even more titles. These included Duke of Segorbe and Duke of Cardona.
He was also a Grandee of Spain twice over. This made him one of the most powerful and important nobles in Spain during his time.
Serving the King
During the rule of King Charles II of Spain, Luis Francisco served his country in Italy. He was an ambassador to the Holy See, which is the government of the Pope Innocent XII. He also served as the Viceroy and Captain General of Naples. A viceroy is like a governor who rules a country or province as the king's representative.
In 1699, he became a member of the Spanish Council of State. This was a very important group that advised the king on how to run the country.
A Time of Change
When King Charles II passed away, Luis Francisco was chosen for a very important role. He became the Prime Minister at the start of the War of Spanish Succession. This war was fought to decide who would be the next king of Spain. The new king was King Philip V of Spain.
Over time, Luis Francisco became less happy with the strong French influence in the Spanish royal court. In 1710, he shared a secret French plan with the English. This plan was about trying to make a separate peace deal with the Dutch Republic.
Because he shared this secret, he was arrested. He was first held in the Alcázar of Segovia. Later, he was moved to the castle of Pamplona, where he died the following year.
Luis Francisco was married to María de las Nieves Girón y Sandoval. She was the daughter of Gaspar Téllez-Girón, 5th Duke de Osuna. They did not have any children who survived. So, his titles were passed on to his nephew, Nicolás Fernández de Córdoba. Nicolás was the son of Luis Francisco's sister, Feliche María de la Cerda y Aragón.
Amazing Art Collection
Luis Francisco de la Cerda y Aragón also had a wonderful collection of paintings. Some of these famous artworks are now in the Prado Museum in Spain.
His collection included:
- The Wine of Saint Martin's Day by Bruegel
- Las Hilanderas by Velázquez
See also
In Spanish: Luis Francisco de la Cerda para niños
