Mariano Téllez-Girón, 12th Duke of Osuna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Duke of Osuna
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Portrait by Valentín Carderera, c. 1833
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Mariano Francisco de Borja José Justo Téllez-Girón y Beaufort Spontin
19 July 1814 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | June 2, 1882 (aged 67) Beauraing, Belgium |
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Mariano Téllez-Girón y Beaufort Spontin, 12th Duke of Osuna (born July 19, 1814 – died June 2, 1882) was a very important Spanish nobleman, a diplomat (someone who represents their country in other nations), and an army officer. He was known for his incredibly fancy lifestyle, especially when he was Spain's Ambassador to Russia. His amazing parties and spending made him famous across Europe.
Mariano was born into one of Spain's most powerful families. He followed his father into the military and became a cadet (a trainee officer) at age 19. He fought in the First Carlist War and earned many awards. Later, he became a member of parliament for Cádiz and worked in different embassies.
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Life as an Ambassador
In 1856, Queen Isabella II sent Mariano to Saint Petersburg, Russia, as an ambassador. Even though the Queen didn't always think highly of him, she knew he was very charming. Spain wanted to regain its importance in the Russian court, which was influenced by British and French ambassadors.
Rebuilding Connections
During his time in Saint Petersburg, Mariano helped Spain and the Russian Empire become good friends again. Their diplomatic ties had been broken after the death of King Ferdinand VII.
Famous Parties
The Duke of Osuna became famous for the incredibly lavish parties he threw at the Spanish embassy. He paid for these parties himself! People said his wealth was so huge that he could travel across half of Spain without ever leaving his own land.
There's a famous story about one of his dinners. He supposedly ordered his guests to throw all the gold plates and cutlery out the windows and into the River Neva. This was just to save his servants the trouble of washing them! While this story might be exaggerated, it shows how incredibly rich and extravagant he was seen to be.
Family and Inheritance
Mariano was the son of Francisco Téllez-Girón, 10th Duke de Osuna and María Francisca Beaufort Spontin y Álvarez de Toledo. His family, the Téllez-Giróns, had been Dukes of Osuna since 1562.
Mariano became the Duke of Osuna in 1844 after his older brother, Pedro, died young. This meant Mariano inherited 59 different noble titles and a huge amount of land and wealth.
He was the last person from his family to live in the Alameda de Osuna, a small palace near Barajas in Madrid. He also owned large farms in places like Seville, Guadalajara, and Extremadura.
Important Events
Mariano represented Spain at several major events:
- He was an ambassador at the Coronation of Queen Victoria in England.
- He was the ambassador in Paris for the wedding of Napoleon III and Eugenia de Montijo in 1853.
- He served as the Ambassador to Saint Petersburg for 12 years, from 1856 to 1868. His personal secretary, Juan Valera, wrote many detailed descriptions of Osuna's extravagant life in Russia.
- In 1861, when he returned to Madrid, Queen Isabella II gave him the Order of the Golden Fleece, a very high honor.
- In 1881, he represented Spain at the wedding of the future German Emperor, Wilhelm II.
Financial Ruin
Mariano died in June 1882 at his castle in Beauraing, Belgium. He had no children and was completely broke. He had inherited about 17 million Spanish pesetas (a type of money) and many valuable things from his brother. However, by the time he died, he owed around 40 million pesetas.
It was said that "the refined duke consumed himself in his own brilliance," meaning his lavish lifestyle led to his downfall. After him, the Spanish saying "ni que fueras Osuna" (meaning "not that you were Osuna") became popular. People still use it today to describe someone who spends money in a very flashy and over-the-top way.
Because he died without children and in such debt, his huge inheritance caused a big legal battle. The king, Alfonso XII, even had to get involved because it was not good for one person to have so many titles and properties. In the end, his titles and properties were divided among different families.
Titles Held
Mariano Téllez-Girón held many important noble titles, including:
Dukedoms
- 12th Duke of Osuna
- 11th Duke of Pastrana
- 15th Duke of Béjar
- 14th Duke of Arcos
- 15th Duke of Benavente
- 15th Duke of the Infantado
- 16th Duke of Plasencia
- 16th Duke of Gandía
- 14th Duke of Medina de Rioseco
- 11th Duke of Lerma
- 11th Duke of Estremera
- 12th Duke of Francavilla
Marquessates
- 14th Marquess of Peñafiel
- 16th Marquess of Santillana
- 17th Marquess of Tavara
- 12th Marquess of Terranova
- Marquess of Cea
- Marquess of Gibraleón
- Marquess of Lombay
- Marquess of Zahara
- Marquess of Cenete
- Marquess of Angüeso
- Marquess of Almenara
- Marquess of Algecilla
Countships
- 17th Count of Benavente
- 8th Count of Fontanar
- 16th Count of Ureña
- Count of Mayorga
- Count of Bañares
- Count of Oliva
- Count of Mayalde
- Count of Belalcázar
- Count of Real de Manzanares
- Count of Saldaña
- Count of the Cid
- Count of Melgar de la Frontera
- Count of Bailén
- Count of Villada
See also
In Spanish: Mariano Téllez-Girón para niños
