García Álvarez de Toledo y Osorio
García Álvarez de Toledo y Osorio, 4th Marquis of Villafranca del Bierzo, Grandee of Spain, (in full, Spanish: Don García Álvarez de Toledo, cuarto Marqués de Villafranca del Bierzo, Duque de Fernandina y principe di Montalbano), (Villafranca del Bierzo, August 29, 1514 - Naples; May 31, 1577), was a Spanish military and politician.
Biography
His father was 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.
He started his military career under command of Andrea Doria on the galleys of Naples, as commander of two ships. In 1535 he already commanded 6 galleys and distinguished himself in the battles of La Goletta, Tunis, Algiers, Sfax, Calibria y Mebredia, after which 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 Infantery of Kingdom of Naples and finally , as his father , Viceroy of Naples between 1564 and 1566.
Here 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.
Marriage and Children
The Duke married in Naples on April 5 1536 with 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.