Fitz-James (noble family)
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The Fitz-James family (also written Fitzjames or FitzJames , derived from the patronymic "fils de James") or Fitz-James Stuart is an illegitimate branch of the British Stuart dynasty . The sex belongs to the European nobility and goes back to the children of James, Duke of York (later King James II), with the mistress Arabella Churchill .
Four children emerged from the love affair:
- Henrietta Fitzjames (1667-1730)
- James Fitzjames, 1st Duke of Berwick (1670–1734)
- Henry Fitzjames “1. Duke of Albemarle "(1673–1702)
- Arabella Fitzjames (1674–1704) became a nun
After Jacob II was deposed as part of the Glorious Revolution in 1688/89, the children accompanied their father into exile. James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, fought as a Jacobite military leader in French and Spanish services and was appointed Spanish Duque de Liria y Jérica and Grande and French Duc de Fitz-James and Peer of France .
He divided his titles among his sons: his son from his first marriage, James Francis , received the title of Duke of Berwick (not recognized in Great Britain) and the Spanish dignity, the eldest son from his second marriage, Henri Jacques, the French title.
King James II (1633–1701)
Lady Arabella Churchill (1648-1730)
James Fitzjames, 1st Duke of Berwick , Duc de Fitz-James, Duque de Liria y Jérica, Pair and Marshal of France (1670–1734)
James Francis Fitz-James Stuart, 2nd Duke of Berwick , 2nd Duque de Liria y Jérica (1696–1738)
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Carlos Miguel Fitz-James Stuart of the Spanish line inherited the title of Duke of Alba from a relative in 1802 ; this line still exists today, although the Duke title of Berwick is controversial due to different interpretations of the female right of succession: The current title holder according to Spanish succession is Carlos Fitz-James Stuart (* 1948), Duke of Alba, son of Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart (1926– 2014), after a British succession, however, his distant cousin Jacobo Hernando (* 1947), Duke of Peñaranda de Duero .
The French line died out in 1967 with the tenth duke. Famous members of this line were the third Duke François de Fitz-James , Bishop of Soissons , his brother Charles de Fitz-James , Marshal of France , and his grandson, the politician Édouard de Fitz-James .
The French commune of Fitz-James (Oise) in Picardy is named after the family.
In addition to the Fitz-James, there are still further ducal " bastard lines " of the royal Stuarts in the male line , namely the families Lennox ( dukes of Richmond and Gordon ), Scott ( dukes ), descending from Charles II , the brother and predecessor of Jacob II of Buccleuch and Queensberry ), FitzRoy ( Dukes of Grafton ), and Beauclerk ( Dukes of St. Albans ).