García Álvarez De Toledo y Osorio Pimentel, I duque de Fernandina, virrey de Sicilia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garc%C3%ADa_de_Toledo

García Álvarez de Toledo (Villafranca del Bierzo, (León), 29 de agosto de 1514 - Nápoles, 31 de mayo de 1577), militar y político español, IV Marqués de Villafranca del Bierzo y Grande de España.

Nació en Villafranca del Bierzo, provincia de León, el 29 de agosto de 1514. Era hijo de Pedro Álvarez de Toledo y Zúñiga, virrey de Nápoles y Juana Pimentel, II Marquesa de Villafranca, y nieto de Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Quiñones, II Duque de Alba.

Comenzó sirviendo a las órdenes de Andrea Doria en las galeras de Nápoles, siendo dueño de dos barcos. En 1535 ya era General de seis galeras y se distinguió en las batallas de la Goleta de Túnez, Argel, Sfax, Calibria y Mebredia, donde se le concedió el título de Capitán General de las Galeras de Nápoles.

Fue Capitán General de la expedición a Grecia y Capitán General del Mar, título que se le dio en 1544 tras derrotar al pirata Barbarroja. Tuvo asimismo los cargos de Coronel General de la Infantería del Reino de Nápoles, Virrey de Sicilia (1564-1566) y Virrey de Cataluña (1558-1564).

La conquista del Peñón de Vélez en 1564, empresa considerada irrealizable, y el socorro a la isla de Malta le valieron la concesión, por parte de Felipe II, del Ducado de Fernandina y el Principado de Montalbán el 24 de diciembre de 1569.

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García Álvarez de Toledo y Osorio, 4th Marquis of Villafranca del Bierzo (August 29, 1514 – May 31, 1577), was a Spanish military officer and politician.

Biography

He was born at Villafranca del Bierzo, the son of Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Marquis of Villafranca, Viceroy of Naples between 1532 and 1553. His mother was Juana Pimentel, Marchioness of Villafranca del Bierzo. The infamous Iron Duke, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, was his cousin. Among his many siblings was Eleonora of Toledo, wife of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

He started his military career under the command of Andrea Doria in the galleys of Naples, as commander of two ships. In 1535, already the commander of 6 galleys, he distinguished himself in the battles of La Goletta, Tunis, Algiers, Sfax, Calibria y Mebredia. After this he was named Capitain General of the Galleys of Naples.

He was Capitain General of the expedition to Greece, and Capitán General del Mar, a title he received in 1544 after having fought Hayreddin Barbarossa. He was Viceroy of Catalonia between 1558 and 1564. He then became Colonel General of the Infantry of Kingdom of Naples and finally, Viceroy of Sicily between 1564 and 1566.

As Viceroy of Sicily he accomplished his two greatest achievements: the conquest of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera in 1564, and the relief of the Siege of Malta (1565). For this he received from King Philip II of Spain the titles Duke of Fernandina and Prince of Montalbán on December 24, 1569.

He died at Naples in 1577.

Marriage and children

On April 5, 1536 in Naples, the Duke married Doña Vittoria Colonna, daughter of Don Ascanio Colonna, 2nd Duke of Paliano, and Doña Juana de Aragón. They had 6 children:

Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 5th Marquis of Villafranca, and Grandee of Spain

María de Toledo, married Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of Alba
Juana de Toledo, married Bernardino Pimentel, 3rd Marquis of Távara.
Leonor Álvarez de Toledo, married her cousin Pietro de' Medici, Prince of Tuscany
Ana de Toledo, married Gómez Dávila, 3rd Marquis of Velada
Inés de Toledo, married Juan Pacheco, 2nd Marquis of Cerralbo.
He also had two illegitimate children:

Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, Señor de Gaipuli.

Delia de Toledo, carmelite nun.