Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
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Fernando Álvarez de Toledo
Governor of Milan
In office
1555–1556
Monarch
Charles I of Spain
Preceded by
Ferdinando Gonzaga
Succeeded by
Cristoforo Madruzzo
Viceroy of Naples
In office
1556–1558
Monarch
Charles I of Spain
Preceded by
Bernardino de Mendoza
Succeeded by
Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of Alba
Governor of the Netherlands
In office
1567–1573
Monarch
Philip II of Spain
Preceded by
Margaret of Austria
Succeeded by
Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga
1st Viceroy of Portugal and the Algarves
In office
18 July 1580 – 11 December 1582
Monarch
Philip I of Portugal
Preceded by
New title
Succeeded by
Archduke Alberto of Austria
12th Constable of Portugal
In office
1581–1582
Monarch
Philip II of Spain
Preceded by
John, 6th Duke of Braganza
Succeeded by
Teodósio II, 7th Duke of Braganza
Personal details
Born
(1507-10-29)29 October 1507 Piedrahíta, Ávila, Spain
Died
11 December 1582(1582-12-11) (aged 75) Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Spouse(s)
María Enríquez de Toledo y Guzmán
Children
Fernando de Toledo
García Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Guzmán Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Guzman
Diego Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Guzmán
Beatriz Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Guzmán
Profession
Soldier, diplomat, statesman
Military service
Allegiance
Spanish Crown
Rank
Captain General
Battles/wars
Ottoman-Habsburg wars
Conquest of Tunis
Italian Wars
Siege of Perpignan
Schmalkaldic War
Battle of Mühlberg
Siege of Wittenberg
Dutch Revolt
Battle of Jemmingen
Battle of Jodoigne
Siege of Mons
War of the Portuguese Succession
Battle of Alcántara
The arrival of the Duke of Alba in Brussels, 1567. Print from 'The Wars of Nassau' by Willem Baudartius, Amsterdam 1616
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel (29 October 1507 – 11 December 1582), known as the Grand Duke of Alba in Spain and the Iron Duke in the Netherlands, was a Spanish noble, general, and diplomat. He was titled the 3rd Duke of Alba de Tormes, 4th Marquis of Coria, 3rd Count of Salvatierra de Tormes, 2nd Count of Piedrahita, 8th Lord of Valdecorneja, Grandee of Spain, and a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. His motto in Latin was Deo patrum Nostrorum, which in English means "To the God of our fathers".
He was an adviser of King Charles I of Spain (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor), and his successor, Philip II of Spain, Mayordomo mayor of both, member of their Councils of State and War, governor of the Duchy of Milan (1555–1556), viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples (1556–1558), governor of the Netherlands (1567–1573) and viceroy and constable of the Kingdom of Portugal (1580–1582). He represented Philip II in negotiating Philip's betrothal to Elisabeth of Valois and Anna of Austria, who were the third and fourth, and last, wives of the king.
By some historians he is considered the best general of his generation[1] and one of the best generals ever.[2] Although a tough leader, he was respected by his troops. He touched their sentiments e.g. by addressing them in his speeches as "gentlemen soldiers" (señores soldados), but was also popular among them for daring statements such as:
The kings use men like oranges, first they squeeze the juice and then throw away the peel.[3]
Alba especially distinguished himself in the conquest of Tunis (1535) during the Ottoman-Habsburg wars when Carlos I defeated Hayreddin Barbarossa and returned the Spanish Monarchy to predominance over the western Mediterranean Sea. He also distinguished himself in the battle of Mühlberg (1547), where the army of Emperor Charles defeated the German Protestant princes.
He is best known for his actions against the revolt of the Netherlands, where he instituted the Council of Troubles, and repeatedly defeated the troops of William of Orange and Louis of Nassau in the battle of Jemmingen (1568) during the first stages of the Eighty Years' War. He is also known for the brutalities during the capture of Mechelen, Zutphen, Naarden and Haarlem. In spite of these military successes, the Dutch revolt was not broken and Alba was recalled to Spain. His last military successes were in the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580, winning the Battle of Alcantara and conquering that kingdom for Philip II. Spain unified all the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula and consequently expanded its overseas territories.
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