Nicolás de Carvajal, Marquis of Sarria

Nicolás de Carvajal y Lancaster, Marquis of Sarria was a member of the Spanish nobility and military figure in the 18th century.

Biography

He was the son of Bernardino de Carvajal y Vivero, and Maria Josefa de Lancaster y Noroña. His mother was a descendant of Jorge de Lancastre, a natural son of King John II of Portugal. His brothers were José de Carvajal y Lancáster and Juan Carvajal y Lancaster.
He was lieutenant general, and colonel of the Spanish infantry regiment of the Reales Guardias. King Ferdinand VI made him a Grandee of Spain first class in 1755.
In 1762 he became commander of the Spanish invasion of Portugal, but he was very slow in assembling his troops and commencing the hostilities. This gave the British the time to bring over an expeditionary force in support of the weak Portuguese army. King Charles III was disgusted by Sarria's lethargy and had him replaced by the Count of Aranda. Sarria received the order of the Golden Fleece, as compensation, and as a reward for his earlier services to the Crown.
He married Ana María Josefa López de Zúñiga y Castro, a daughter of Juan Manuel de Zúñiga and Rafaela de Castro y Centurión, and widow of Ginés Miguel Fernando Ruíz de Castro y Portugal.
He died in Madrid without an heir on 4 March 1770.