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Duke of Alba facts for kids

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"Duchess of Alba" redirects here. For the late Duchess, see Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba.
"Dukedom of Alba" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Kingdom of Alba.
For the 16th-century governor of the Spanish-ruled Low Countries, see Duke of Alva.
Quick facts for kids
Dukedom of Alba de Tormes
Escudo del Ducado de Alba de Tormes.svg
Creation date 1472
Monarch Henry IV of Castile
Peerage Spain
First holder García Álvarez de Toledo y Carrillo de Toledo, 2nd Count of Alba de Tormes
Present holder Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 19th Duke of Alba de Tormes
Heir apparent Fernando Fitz-James Stuart y Solís, 15th Duke of Huéscar
Seat(s)
Former seat(s) Castle of the Dukes of Alba (Alba de Tormes)
Palace of the Dukes of Alba (Ávila)
Standard of the Dukedom of Alba de Tormes
Standard of the Dukedom of Alba

Duke of Alba de Tormes (Spanish: Duque de Alba de Tormes), commonly known as Duke of Alba, is a title of Spanish nobility that is accompanied by the dignity of Grandee of Spain. In 1472, the title of Count of Alba de Tormes, inherited by García Álvarez de Toledo, was elevated to the title of Duke of Alba de Tormes by King Henry IV of Castile.

History

The dukedom of Alba de Tormes is one of the most significant noble titles of Spain and gives its name to the House of Alba. Over the centuries, members of three distinct family dynasties have held the title in succession – the House of Álvarez de Toledo [es], the House of Silva (extinct in 1802) and the House of Fitz-James Stuart, which descends from an illegitimate son of King James II of England.

Famous holders of this dukedom include Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, governor of the Spanish Netherlands (references to "Alba" (or "Alva" in Dutch), particularly in the context of Dutch history, are usually about him), and Doña María del Pilar de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba, a muse of the painter Francisco Goya. When they first met, Francisco Goya was much older than the Duchess of Alba. Goya was in his late 40s and the Duchess was in her early 30s.

Various dukes have married into the families of Christopher Columbus and Cosimo de Medici, as well as the line of the Dukes of Berwick, making them distant relatives of the Earls Spencer and the Dukes of Marlborough.

Today, the ducal family of Alba retains a large and valuable collection of art and historic documents. The largest part of this treasure is kept at the main residence of the family in Madrid, the Liria Palace.

Lords of Alba de Tormes (1429)

  • Don Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo, Archbishop of Toledo (also Bishop of Palencia, Archbishop of Seville)
  • Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, nephew of Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo (created Count of Alba de Tormes in 1439)

Counts of Alba de Tormes (1439)

Dukes of Alba de Tormes (1472)

Coat of arms of the House of Alvarez de Toledo, duchy of Alba de Tormes, Grandee of Spain
Arms of the Dukes of Alba of the House of Álvarez de Toledo
Coat of Arms of the Duke of Alba (Common)
Arms of the Dukes of Alba of the House of Fitz-James Stuart

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ducado de Alba de Tormes para niños

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