Everything about Fernando Lvarez De Toledo 3rd Duke Of Alba totally explained
Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba (
October 29,
1507–
December 11,
1582) was a
Spanish general and
governor of the
Spanish Netherlands (
1567-
1573), nicknamed "the Iron
Duke" by Protestants of the
Low Countries because of his harsh rule and cruelty. Tales of atrocities committed during his military operations in
Flanders became part of Dutch and English folklore, forming a new and central component of the
Black Legend.
Early life
Alba's grandfather, Fadrique Alvarez de Toledo, educated him in military science and politics; and he was engaged with distinction at the
Battle of Pavia in 1525, while still a youth.
Selected for a military command by
Charles V, he took part in the siege of
Tunis (1535), and successfully defended
Perpignan against the
dauphin of
France. He was present at the
Battle of Mühlberg (1547), and the victory gained there over the Prince-Elector
Johann Friederich of Saxony was due mainly to his exertions. He took part in the subsequent successful siege of
Wittenberg defended by the Electress,
Sybille, following which Alba presided at the court-martial which tried the Prince-Elector and condemned him to death as a rebel against the Emperor, wringing from him the
Capitulation of Wittenberg (1547), in which he was compelled to resign the electoral dignity and a great part of his territory to his cousin
Maurice.
In 1552 Alba was entrusted with the command of the army intended to invade
France, and was engaged for several months in an unsuccessful siege of
Metz. In consequence of the success of the French arms in
Piedmont, he was made commander-in-chief of all the emperor's forces in
Italy, and at the same time invested with unlimited power. Success did not, however, attend his first attempts, and after several unfortunate attacks he was obliged to retire into winter quarters.
After the abdication of Charles V he was continued in the command by
Philip II, who, however, restrained him from extreme measures. Alba had subdued the whole
Campagna and was at the gates of
Rome, when he was compelled by Philip's orders to negotiate a peace.
Not long after this (1559) he was sent at the head of a splendid embassy to
Paris to espouse, in the name of Philip, Elizabeth, daughter of
Henry, king of France. These negotiations led to the
Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis.
Retirement and disgrace
Alba's feeble state of health and continued disasters induced him to solicit his recall from the government of the Low Countries. In December 1573 Philip accepted his resignation and replaced him with
Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens.
On his return he was treated for some time with great distinction by Philip, until a love affair of Don Fadrique dragged father and son into disgrace. Alba was banished from court and confined in the castle of Uzeda.
Alba remained in exile at his castle up to 1580, when the acknowledged power of his iron hand was sought in the war against Portugal.
Alba in Portugal
Here he'd remained two years, when the success of
Dom António in assuming the crown of
Portugal determined Philip to turn his eyes towards Alba as the person in whose fidelity and abilities he could most confide.
Appointed to the supreme command in Portugal in
1580, Alba soon defeated António in the
Battle of Alcântara, drove him from the kingdom, and reduced the whole under the subjection of Philip. Entering Lisbon he seized an immense treasure, and allowed his soldiers to
sack the suburbs and vicinity.
Alba, however, didn't enjoy the honours and rewards of his last expedition, for he died at
Lisbon on
December 11,
1582.
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