Quick Facts
Biography
Don Carlos Fitz-James-Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 19th Duke of Alba de Tormes, Grandee of Spain (né Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart; born 2 October 1948), is a Spanish aristocrat. He is the current Duke of Alba and thereby Head of the House of Alba.
Life and education
The Duke of Alba was born in Madrid and is the eldest son of Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz (17 November 1919 in Madrid, Spain – 6 September 1972 in Houston, Texas, United States), and Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba (March 28, 1926 – November 20, 2014).
In 1951 (at the age of 2) he became the 14th Duke of Huéscar; a title which was ceded to him by his grandfather Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba and 13th Duke of Huéscar.
He obtained a degree in law at the Complutense University of Madrid and now works as an adviser for several cultural institutions, such as the Hispania Nostra Foundation, the Valencia de Don Juan Institute, and the Hispanic Society of America. The Duke of Alba is in charge of the House of Alba Foundation and, thus, in principle of a great deal of the significant House of Alba heritage and patrimony.
The Duke of Alba is also a Knight of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla.
With the death of his mother on 20 November 2014, he became the next and 19th Duke of Alba. The inheritance of this ducal title and 38 other titles (in total 12 of them with Grandees of Spain) were officially confirmed in 2015.
In 2015, he ceded the titles Duke of Huéscar to his eldest son and heir-apparent Fernando and Count of Osorno to his second and youngest son Carlos.
Family
On June 13, 1988, the Duke of Alba married Matilde de Solís y Martínez de Campos in the Seville Cathedral. She is the daughter of Fernando de Solís y Atienza, 10th Marquis of la Motilla, and his wife Isabel Martínez de Campos Rodríguez, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Seo de Urgel. The couple had two children before they divorced in 2004:
- Fernando Fitz-James Stuart de Solís, 15th Duke of Huéscar, Grandee of Spain (born 14 September 1990).
- Carlos Fitz-James Stuart de Solís, 22nd Count of Osorno, Grandee of Spain (born 29 November 1991).
Subsequently, perhaps since 2004, he has maintained a friendly relationship with Alicia Koplowitz, 7th Marquise of Bellavista, a magnate who ranked as Spain's richest woman in Forbes World's Richest People list.
Ancestry
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| Patrilineal descent |
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Carlos'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 Carlos’s historically accurate House name is Irujo.
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Titles, styles and honours
Titles
- 19th Duke of Alba, Grandee of Spain
- 14th Duke of Huéscar, Grandee of Spain - ceded to his son Don Fernando
- 14th Duke of Almazán, Grandee of Spain
- 12th Duke of Berwick, Grandee of Spain
- 12th Duke of Liria and Jérica, Grandee of Spain
- 13th Count-Duke of Olivares, Grandee of Spain
- 18th Marquis of the Carpio, Grandee of Spain
- 17th Marquis of La Algaba
- 19th Marquis of Barcarrota
- 11th Marquis of Castañeda
- 24th Marquis of Coria
- 15th Marquis of Eliche
- 17th Marquis of Mirallo
- 21st Marquis of la Mota
- 21st Marquis of Moya
- 13th Marquis of Osera
- 15th Marquis of San Leonardo
- 20th Marquis of Sarria
- 13th Marquis of Tarazona
- 16th Marquis of Valdunquillo
- 19th Marquis of Villanueva del Fresno
- 18th Marquis of Villanueva del Río
- 23rd Count of Lemos, Grandee of Spain
- 21st Count of Lerín, Grandee of Spain, Constable of Navarre
- 21st Count of Miranda del Castañar, Grandee of Spain
- 17th Count of Monterrey, Grandee of Spain
- 21st Count of Osorno, Grandee of Spain - ceded to his son Don Carlos
- 20th Count of Andrade
- 15th Count of Ayala
- 17th Count of Casarrubios del Monte
- 17th Count of Fuentes de Valdepero
- 12th Count of Fuentidueña
- 18th Count of Galve
- 19th Count of Gelves
- 22nd Count of Modica (Kingdom of Sicily)
- 26th Count of San Esteban de Gormaz
- 13th Count of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- 21st Count of Villalba
- 13th Viscount of la Calzada
- 30th Lord of Moguer
Styles
- The Most Excellent Don Carlos Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart (1948–1951).
- The Most Excellent The Duke of Huéscar (1951–2014).
- The Most Excellent The Duke of Alba (2014–).
Honours
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. Vice Grand Prefect (1970-1990).
Knight of the Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius.
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. Vice Grand Prefect (1970-1990).
Knight of the Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius.