Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Duke of Alba

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez de Toledo and the second or maternal family name is Enríquez.
The Most Excellent
Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo
2nd Duke of Alba GE
Born
Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez

c. 1460
Died(1531-10-19)19 October 1531
SpouseIsabel de Zúñiga y Pimentel
Parents
FamilyHouse of Alba

Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez, 2nd Duke of Alba (in full, Spanish: Don Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Quiñones, segundo Duque de Alba de Tormes, segundo marqués de Coria, conde de Salvatierra, señor del estado de Valdecorneja y del estado de Huéscar) (c. 1460 – 19 October 1531) was a Spanish nobleman, military leader and politician.

Life and career

He was the eldest son of García Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Duke of Alba, and his wife, María Enríquez de Quiñones, daughter of Fadrique Enríquez de Mendoza and younger half-sister to Juana Enríquez, Queen of Aragon.

Fadrique was very close to the Catholic Monarchs. His father had fought in the War of the Castilian Succession on the side of the future Queen Isabella I of Castille against her niece Juana la Beltraneja, and his mother was the younger half-sister of Juana Enríquez y Fernandez de Cordoba, making him the first cousin of Ferdinand II of Aragon.

He participated in the conquest of the Emirate of Granada, and already as Duke, he led the Spanish army against the French in Roussillon in 1503.

Invasion of the Kingdom of Navarre

When Ferdinand II as regent of Castilla, decided to invade and conquer the Kingdom of Navarre, supported by a Papal bull, he put the Duke of Alba at the head of his army. During the first phase of the Castilian invasion of the Kingdom of Navarre, the Battle of Monjardín, fought on 21 October 1512, marked the largest engagement of the initial conquest.[1] Modern historiography identifies this battle as the only occasion during the first conquest in which Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo was decisively defeated.[1] The defeat was inflicted by Franco-Navarrese forces under the command of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, Lord of Igúzquiza and alcaide of the fortress of Monjardín.[1] The outcome forced the Duke of Alba to withdraw toward Pamplona and temporarily interrupted Castilian consolidation in central Navarre.[1] Historian Peio J. Monteano notes that the Spaniards "never forgot the bloody humiliation," which marked a rupture in the momentum of the first conquest.[1]

Despite his defeat in 1512 at Monjardín, Fadrique conquered Navarre in only two weeks time. As a reward, he was promoted to capitan general of Andalucía and Duke of Huescar in 1513.

Member of the Council of State

He was also a member of the Consejo de Estado under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. He accompanied the Emperor to Germany, Flanders and Italy and was made in 1520 a grandee of Spain and a knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Marriage and offspring

He married Isabel de Zúñiga (1470-after 1520), Condesa de Sevilla, in 1480 and had five children. His eldest son García was destined to be his successor, but predeceased his father, passing the title of third Duke of Alba to Fadrique's grandson, the famous Iron Duke Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel.

His offspring:

Additional information

See also

Sources

  • Hobbs, Nicolas (2007). "Grandes de España" (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  • Instituto de Salazar y Castro. Elenco de Grandezas y Titulos Nobiliarios Españoles (in Spanish). periodic publication.
  1. ^ a b c d e Puy Muguiro, Laura. "Las historias nacionales de Francia y España tienden a ignorar el pasado de Navarra." Diario de Navarra, interview with Peio J. Monteano Sorbet, Pamplona, 31 December 2025, pp. 78–79.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fadrique_%C3%81lvarez_de_Toledo,_2nd_Duke_of_Alba