Duke 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.

"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.

Dukedom of Alba de Tormes
Creation date1472
MonarchHenry IV
PeeragePeerage of Spain
First holderGarcía Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Duke of Alba
Present holderCarlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 19th Duke of Alba[1]
Seat(s)
Former seat(s)Palace of the Dukes of Alba (Ávila)

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, three distinct families have succeeded to the title: the House of Álvarez de Toledo (extinct in 1755), the House of Silva (extinct in 1802), and the House of FitzJames, which descends from an illegitimate son of King James II of England.

Famous dukes include Don Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, governor of the Spanish Netherlands (references to "Alba" (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.

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 Dukes of Alba retain 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 (1429–1439)
  1. Don Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo (also Bishop of Palencia, Archbishop of Seville, then Archbishop of Toledo)[2]
  2. Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, nephew of Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo (created Count of Alba de Tormes in 1439)

Counts of Alba de Tormes (1439–1472)
  1. Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Count of Alba
  2. Don García Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Count of Alba (created Duke of Alba de Tormes in 1472)

Dukes of Alba de Tormes (1472–present)
Arms of the Dukes of Alba of the House of Álvarez de Toledo
Arms of the Dukes of Alba of the House of FitzJames
  1. Don García Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Duke of Alba
  2. Don Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Duke of Alba
  3. Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba known in The Netherlands as the Iron Duke for his harsh action in the Eighty Years' War
  4. Don Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of Alba
  5. Don Antonio Álvarez de Toledo, 5th Duke of Alba
  6. Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 6th Duke of Alba
  7. Don Antonio Álvarez de Toledo, 7th Duke of Alba
  8. Don Antonio Álvarez de Toledo, 8th Duke of Alba
  9. Don Antonio Álvarez de Toledo, 9th Duke of Alba
  10. Don Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, 10th Duke of Alba
  11. Doña María Teresa Álvarez de Toledo, 11th Duchess of Alba
  12. Don Fernando de Silva, 12th Duke of Alba
  13. Doña María Cayetana de Silva, 13th Duchess of Alba
  14. Don Carlos Miguel Fitz-James Stuart, 14th Duke of Alba (see also Duke of Berwick)
  15. Don Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 15th Duke of Alba
  16. Don Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart, 16th Duke of Alba
  17. Don Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba
  18. Doña María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba
  19. Don Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 19th Duke of Alba
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References
  1. BOE: Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo sucede en el título de duque De Alba de Tormes
  2. Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo
  • Hobbs, Nicolas (2007). "Grandes de España" (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  • Instituto de Salazar y Castro (2012). Elenco de Grandezas y Títulos Nobiliarios Españoles (in Spanish). periodic publication. Hidalguia Ediciones. ISBN 9788493931339. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
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