María de Toledo


María de Toledo or María Álvarez de Toledo or María Álvarez de Toledo y Rojas was a Spanish noblewoman and the first woman in the Americas with the title of Vicereine and regent of the Spanish Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, present day Dominican Republic. She was the most powerful and highest-ranking noble in America in the 16th century and a defender of the liberties of the indigenous people in the Hispaniola.

Life

Maria de Toledo was granddaughter of García Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Duke of Alba and niece of Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Duke of Alba, cousin of King Ferdinand II of Aragon "The Catholic".
She was married to Diego Columbus, the son of Christopher Columbus. Her spouse was viceroy of the Hispaniola. They resided in the Alcázar de Colón in Santo Domingo.
During the absence of her husband from 1514 until 1520, she was left in charge of the settlement along with Jerónimo de Agüero. In 1523, when Diego was recalled a second time, she was named virreina. She was then expecting their eighth child.

Issue