José Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba
Don José Álvarez de Toledo Osorio y Gonzaga, 11th Marquess of Villafranca, Grandee of Spain, jure uxoris Duke of Alba de Tormes, Grandee of Spain was a patron of the artist Francisco Goya.
Early life
Álvarez de Toledo was born on 16 July 1756 in Madrid. He was the eldest son of Antonio Álvarez de Toledo, 10th Marquis of Villafranca del Bierzo and Princess Maria Antonia Gonzaga.His paternal grandparents were Fadrique Vicente de Toledo Osorio, 9th Marquis of Villafranca and Juana Pérez de Guzmán y Silva. His maternal grandparents were Francesco Gonzaga, 1st Duke of Solferino and Giulia Caracciolo di Santo Buono.
At thirteen, he became chamberlain to King Charles IV of Spain.
Career
A year after his marriage, he inherited the dukedom of Medina-Sidonia and joined two of the most important Houses of the Spanish nobility.The failed attempt of his friend Alejandro Malaspina to oust Queen María Luisa's favourite Manuel de Godoy in favour of the Duke of Alba put an early end to the political career of the progressive aristocrat.
Personal life
In 1775, as the 11th Marquess of Villafranca, he married his kinswoman Doña María del Pilar Teresa Cayetana de Silva y Álvarez de Toledo. Their marriage made them the wealthiest couple in the kingdom; they competed against the Osuna family. The year after their marriage, she became the 13th Duchess of Alba after inheriting the title from her paternal grandfather, Fernando de Silva, 12th Duke of Alba, thereby José Álvarez became de jure uxoris Duke of Alba. María Teresa, as she was known in her family, was the legendary "Duchess of Alba" in Goya's paintings.Álvarez de Toledo y Gonzaga died on 9 June 1796, in Seville. As the couple had no children, Álvarez de Toledo y Gonzaga was succeeded by his brother Francisco de Borja. His wife held the title of Duchess of Alba until her death in 1802 and she was succeeded by a relative Carlos Miguel Fitz-James Stuart.