Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba

Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart
Duchess of Alba (more...)
The Duchess in 2006.
Duchess of Alba
Tenure	February 18, 1955 – present
Predecessor	Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba
Heir Apparent	Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 14th Duke of Huéscar
Spouse(s)	Pedro Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz (m. 1947; dec. 1972) Jesús Aguirre y Ortiz de Zárate (m. 1978; dec. 2001) Alfonso Díez Carabantes (m. 2011)
Issue
Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 14th Duke of Huéscar Alfonso Martínez de Irujo, 15th Duke of Aliaga Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 23rd Count of Siruela Fernando Martínez de Irujo, 11th Marquis of San Vicente del Barco Cayetano Martínez de Irujo, 13th Count of Salvatierra Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, 12th Duchess of Montoro
Full name
María del Rosario Cayetana Paloma Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Fernanda Teresa Francisca de Paula Lourdes Antonia Josefa Fausta Rita Castor Dorotea Santa Esperanza Fitz-James Stuart, Silva, Falcó y Gurtubay
Noble Family	House of Alba House of FitzJames
Father	Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba
Mother	María del Rosario de Silva, 9th Marquise of San Vicente del Barco
Born	March 28, 1926 (1926-03-28) (age 85) Liria Palace, Madrid
Baptised	April 18, 1926 Royal Chapel, Royal Palace of Madrid

Doña María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba de Tormes, Grandee of Spain (born 28 March 1926, Liria Palace, Madrid) is the current head of the House of Alba and the third woman to carry the title in her own right. The Duchess is a descendant of King James II of England, VII of Scotland, through his illegitimate son James Fitz-James, Duke of Berwick (1670–1734), born of a relationship with Arabella Churchill, only sister of the Duke of Marlborough, making her a distant relative of both Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, descendants of Arabella's daughter Henrietta FitzJames. She entered Vanity Fair's International Best-Dressed List in 2009.

She was born at the Palace of Liria - where died in 1920 l'ex-impératrice Eugénie - on 28 March 1926, as the only child of the 17th Duke of Alba (a prominent politician and diplomat during the 1930s and 1940s), by his wife Doña María del Rosario de Silva y Gurtubay, 9th Marquise of San Vicente del Barco in her own right. Her godmother was Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain.

The matriarch's supreme title is Duchess of Alba, but she has more than 40 others.^[1] According to Guinness World Records, she has more titles recognized by an existing government than any other noble in the world.^[2]

Life and family

On 12 October 1947, the Duchess married Don Pedro Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz (1919–1972), son of the Duke of Sotomayor.^[3] The wedding was considered to be the last great feudal wedding in Spain and attracted the attention of the international media, even overshadowing interest shown in the wedding of The Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom (later Queen Elizabeth II), which was held a month later.^{[citation needed]} The New York Times called it "the most expensive wedding of the world."^[4] Rumor has it that 20 million pesetas were spent at that time.^{[verification needed]} Six children were born of this marriage, all of whom have received titles of nobility with that of Grandee of Spain from their mother.

• Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 14th Duke of Huéscar (born 2 October 1948, Madrid). In 1988, he married Matilde Solís-Beaumont y Martínez de Campos, but they later divorced. Together they have two children:
  • Fernando Juan Fitz-James Stuart y Solís (born 14 September 1990 in Madrid)
  • Carlos Arturo José María Fitz-James Stuart y Solís (born 29 November 1991 in Madrid)

• Alfonso Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, 16th Duke of Aliaga (born 22 October 1950, Madrid). On 4 July 1977 he married Princess María de la Santísima Trinidad de Hohenlohe-Langenburg y de la Cuadra (born 8 April 1957), whom he later divorced. Together they have two children:
  • Luis Martínez de Irujo y Hohenlohe (born 26 May 1978)
  • Javier Martínez de Irujo y Hohenlohe (born January 1981). He married sherry heiress Inés Domecq y Fernández-Govantes in 2008.

• Jacobo Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, 23rd Count of Siruela (born 15 July 1954, Madrid). On 1 November 1980, he married María Eugenia Fernández de Castro y Fernández-Shaw (born 15 October 1954), but they later divorced. He re-married with journalist, editor and writer Inka Martí Kiemann in April 2004. They have two children:
  • Jacobo Martínez de Irujo y Fernández de Castro (born 23 January 1981). He married Asela Pérez Becerril on May 14, 2011. Co-owners of an art gallery.
  • Brianda Eugenia Martínez de Irujo y Fernández de Castro (born 11 April 1984)

• Fernando Martínez de Irujo, 11th Marquis of San Vicente del Barco (born 11 July 1959). According to a profile of the Duchess of Alba published in 2008 in The Independent, the biological father of Fernando "is widely reported to be Sevillian flamenco dancer Antonio, el bailarin [Antonio Ruiz Soler, 1921-1996]", which, the paper previously stated, was "a rumour the Alba family never denied".^[5][6][7] Antonio, el bailarin declared this parentage in his posthumously published memoirs, though the publication of that information in the Spanish magazine Interviú led a Spanish court to award the duchess 90,000 euros, calling it an assault on the aristocrat's honor "with ... intention to profit".^[6][8]

• Cayetano Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, 13th Count of Salvatierra (born 4 April 1963, Madrid). By his ex-wife, Genoveva Casanova, from Mexico, he has twin children:
  • Luis Martínez de Irujo y Casanova (born 25 October 2001)
  • Amina Martínez de Irujo y Casanova (born 25 October 2001)

Cayetano re-married Genoveva Casanova y González (daughter of Kenneth Larry Casanova and his wife Mariana González y Reimann) in October 2005, after five years of relationship.

• Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, 12th Duchess of Montoro, born 26 November 1968. On 23 October 1998, she married bullfighter Francisco Rivera Ordóñez of the Ordóñez bullfighting dynasty. The couple divorced in 2002. They have one child:
  • Cayetana Rivera y Martínez de Irujo (born 16 October 1999)

After becoming a widow, the Duchess remarried on 16 March 1978 to Jesús Aguirre y Ortiz de Zárate (1937–2001), a Doctor of Theology and a former Jesuit priest. The wedding caused shock; Aguirre was illegitimate, which was scandalous in 1970s Spain.^[9] Eleven years younger than the Duchess, he maintained a good relationship with her children. During their marriage he administered, with his stepson Carlos, the Alba estates.^[10] Aguirre died in 2001.

Details emerged in 2008 regarding the Duchess's intention to marry Alfonso Díez Carabantes, a civil servant who also runs a public relations business, 24 years her junior. It was reported that there were objections from her children and from King Juan Carlos, and the House of Alba that year issued a statement saying that the relationship "was based on a long friendship and there are no plans to marry".^[5][9]. The duchess decided to proceed with the marriage, overcoming her children's opposition by giving them their inheritance in advance, the duchess's fortune includes ancient palaces throughout Spain, paintings by the Spanish masters Velazquez and Goya, a first-edition copy of Cervantes's Don Quixote, letters written by Christopher Columbus, and huge stretches of land. Her wealth is estimated at between €600 million and €3.5 billion.^[1] Díez has formally renounced any claim to her wealth.^[9] They married on 5 October, 2011 at the Palacio de las Dueñas in Seville.^[11]

Titles, styles and honours

Titles

Duchies

• 18th Duchess of Alba, Grandee of Spain
• 15th Duchess of Aliaga, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Alfonso Martínez
• 3rd Duchess of Arjona, Grandee of Spain
• 11th Duchess of Berwick, Grandee of Spain (Jacobite Peerage)
• 17th Duchess of Híjar, Grandee of Spain
• 11th Duchess of Liria and Jérica, Grandee of Spain
• 11th Duchess of Montoro, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her daughter Doña Eugenia

County-Duchy

• 12th Countess-Duchess of Olivares, Grandee of Spain

Marquesates

• 17th Marquise of the Carpio, Grandee of Spain
• 10th Marquise of San Vicente del Barco, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Fernando
• 16th Marquise of La Algaba
• 16th Marquise of Almenara
• 18th Marquise of Barcarrota
• 10th Marquise of Castañeda
• 23rd Marquise of Coria
• 14th Marquise of Eliche
• 16th Marquise of Mirallo
• 20th Marquise of la Mota
• 20th Marquise of Moya
• 17th Marquise of Orani
• 12th Marquise of Osera
• 14th Marquise of San Leonardo
• 19th Marquise of Sarria
• 12th Marquise of Tarazona
• 15th Marquise of Valdunquillo
• 18th Marquise of Villanueva del Fresno
• 17th Marquise of Villanueva del Río

Counties

• 27th Countess of Aranda, Grandee of Spain
• 22nd Countess of Lemos, Grandee of Spain
• 20th Countess of Lerín, Grandee of Spain, Constabless of Navarre
• 20th Countess of Miranda del Castañar, Grandee of Spain
• 16th Countess of Monterrey, Grandee of Spain
• 20th Countess of Osorno, Grandee of Spain
• 18th Countess of Palma del Río, Grandee of Spain
• 12th Countess of Salvatierra, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Cayetano
• 22nd Countess of Siruela, Grandee of Spain -Ceded to her son Don Jacobo
• 19th Countess of Andrade
• 14th Countess of Ayala
• 16th Countess of Casarrubios del Monte
• 16th Countess of Fuentes de Valdepero
• 11th Countess of Fuentidueña
• 17th Countess of Galve
• 18th Countess of Gelves
• 16th Countess of Guimerá
• 21st Countess of Modica (Kingdom of Sicily)
• 24th Countess of Ribadeo
• 25th Countess of San Esteban de Gormaz
• 12th Countess of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
• 11th Countess of Tinmouth (Jacobite Peerage)
• 20th Countess of Villalba

Viscounties

• 12th Viscountess of la Calzada

Baronies

• 11th Baroness of Bosworth (Jacobite Peerage)

Manorials

• 29th Lady of Moguer

Styles

• 28 March 1926 – 11 January 1935: The Most Excellent Doña Mª del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva
• 11 January 1935 – 28 January 1947: The Most Excellent The Duchess of Aliaga
• 28 January 1947 – 18 February 1955: The Most Excellent The Duchess of Montoro
• 18 February 1955 – present: The Most Excellent The Duchess of Alba de Tormes

Honours

• Grand Cross of the Order of Alphonso X the Wise (14 December 2001)^[12]
• Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa
• Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1 April 1964)^[13]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Charity (5 April 1962)^[14]

Honorary appointments

• Constable of Aragon
• Dame of the Royal Arsenal Cavalry of Seville
• Honorary Mayor of Liria (Madrid)
• Honorary President of the Opera Philharmonic
• Honorary President of the Spanish Red Cross
• Marshal of Castilla
• Member of the Hispanic Society of America, New York
• Member of Merit of the Royal Hispanic-American Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters of Cadiz

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent

Cayetana's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in Ducal Houses, as it can be traced back through the generations - which means that Cayetana’s historically accurate House name is Stuart. Alan fitz Flaad, d. 1114 Walter fitz Alan, 1106–1177 Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland, d. 1204 Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland, 1178–1241 Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, 1214–1283 Sir John Stewart of Bonkyl, 1246–1298 Sir Alan Stewart of Dreghorn, 1280–1333 Sir Alexander Stewart, d. 1374 Sir Alexander Stewart, d. 1404 Sir John Stewart, 1st Lord Aubigny, 1370–1429 Sir Alan Stuart of Darnley, d. 1409 John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox, 1430–1495 Matthew Stewart, 2nd Earl of Lennox, 1488–1513 John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox, 1490–1526 Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, 1516–1571 Henry Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany, 1545–1567 James I of England, 1566–1625 Charles I of England, 1600–1649 James II of England, 1633–1701 James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, 1670–1734 James Fitz-James Stuart, 2nd Duke of Berwick, 1696–1738 James Fitz-James Stuart, 3rd Duke of Berwick, 1718–1785 Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 4th Duke of Liria and Jérica, 1752–1787 Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 5th Duke of Liria and Jérica, 1773–1794 Carlos Miguel Fitz-James Stuart, 14th Duke of Alba, 1794–1835 Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 15th Duke of Alba, 1821–1881 Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart, 16th Duke of Alba, 1849–1901 Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba, 1878–1953 Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba, b. 1926

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Daniel Woolls; Miguel Angel Morenatti (October 5, 2011). "Rich Spanish duchess weds for third time at age 85". The Boston Globe (Boston: NYTC). ISSN 0743-1791. http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2011/10/05/rich_spanish_duchess_weds_for_third_time_at_age_85/. Retrieved October 9, 2011. 
2. ^ Burgen, Stephen (7 August 2011). "Spanish duchess gives away fortune in order to marry civil servant". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/07/spain-duchess-marriage-fortune. Retrieved 23 September 2011. 
3. ^ Death Duke of Sotomayor
4. ^ Constenla, Tereixa (14 August 2011). "The duchess marries for love". El Pais. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/The/duchess/marries/for/love/elpepueng/20110814elpeng_2/Ten. Retrieved 23 September 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "The duchess with everything (except the right to marry)". The Independent (London). 29 September 2008. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-duchess-with-everything-except-the-right-to-marry-945291.html. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "La duquesa de Alba recibirá 90.000 euros por los “chismorreos” sobre Antonio, el bailarín" (Spanish).
7. ^ Elizabeth Nash (May 18, 2001). "The Duke of Alba - Obituary". The Independent (London: INM). ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 185201487. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-duke-of-alba-729126.html. Retrieved August 24, 2011. 
8. ^ Morillas, Joana. "La duquesa de Alba, indignada con las memorias de Antonio, el bailarín" (Spanish). 30 March 2006.^{[dead link]}
9. ^ ^{a b c} Guardian newspaper: Spanish duchess gives away fortune in order to marry civil servant, 8 August 2011
10. ^ Algorri, Luis (2001-05-21). "Jesús Aguirre Ortiz de Zárate, Duque de Alba" (in Spanish). Personajes Cántabros. http://www.galeon.com/cantabria-a/Biografias/CarpA/AguirreJesus/AguirreJesus.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-29.  (Spanish)
11. ^ Galaz, Mábel (2011-10-05). "Cayetana ya es señora de Díez" (in Spanish). El País. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/gente/tv/Cayetana/senora/elpepugen/20111005elpepuage_3/Tes. Retrieved 2011-10-05.  (Spanish)
12. ^ Royal decree 1432 of 14 December 2001 - website BOE.es
13. ^ Decree 1079 of 1 April 1964 - website BOE.es
14. ^ Decree 753 of 5 April 1962 - website BOE.es

Spanish nobility
Preceded by María del Rosario de Silva	Duchess of Aliaga 11 January 1935 – 23 April 1954	Succeeded by Alfonso Martínez de Irujo
	Marquise of San Vicente del Barco 11 January 1935 – 26 January 1994	Succeeded by Fernando Martínez de Irujo
Preceded by Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart	Duchess of Montoro 28 January 1947 – 24 November 1994	Succeeded by Eugenia Martínez de Irujo
	Duchess of Alba de Tormes 18 February 1955 – present	Incumbent Heir: The Duke of Huéscar
	Countess of Siruela 18 February 1955 – 9 June 1982	Succeeded by Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart
Preceded by Alfonso de Silva	Duchess of Híjar 31 December 1957 – present	Incumbent
	Countess of Salvatierra 31 December 1957 – 26 January 1994	Succeeded by Cayetano Martínez de Irujo
Peerage of England
Preceded by Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart	Duke of Berwick 18 February 1955 – present	Incumbent Heir: The Duke of Huéscar
Italian nobility
Preceded by Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart	Count of Modica 18 February 1955 – present	Incumbent Heir: The Duke of Huéscar

Persondata
Name	Fitz-James Stuart, Cayetana , 18th Duchess Of Alba
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	28 March 1926
Place of birth	Madrid, Spain
Date of death
Place of death