Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba. Detail from the painting by Anthony More. For the musician see Anthony More (musician. Sir Antonis Mor (c

Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba (Spanish: Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, tercer duque de 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. The Dukes of Alba ( es: Duque de Alba) are Spanish nobility and Grandees of Spain. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government The Southern Netherlands (Zuidelijke Nederlanden Países Bajos del Sur Pays-Bas du sud were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain ( Spanish A duke is a member of the Nobility, historically of highest rank below the Sovereign, and historically controlled a Duchy or a Dukedom The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt 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. Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The Black Legend ( La Leyenda Negra) is a term coined by Julián Juderías in his 1914 book La leyenda negra y la verdad histórica ( 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. Charles V (24 February 1500 &ndash 21 September 1558 was Tunis ( Arabic: تونس Tūnis) is the Capital of the Tunisian Republic and also the Tunis Perpignan ( French: Perpignan, pɛʀpiɲɑ̃ Catalan Perpinyà,) is a commune and the Préfecture (administrative The Dauphin of France (Dauphin de France—strictly Dauphin of Viennois ( Dauphin de Viennois)—was the title given to the Heir apparent of the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. 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. The Battle of Mühlberg was a large battle at Mühlberg in the German of Electorate of Saxony during the Protestant Reformation at which the Catholic princes John Frederick I Elector of Saxony (Johann Friedrich I b Torgau, 30 June 1503 – d 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. Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a Town in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the Elbe Sybille of Cleves ( ( January 17, 1512, Düsseldorf — February 21, 1554, Weimar) was the eldest daughter of John III The Capitulation of Wittenberg (Wittenberger Kapitulation was a treaty in 1547 by which John Frederick I Elector of Saxony, was compelled to resign the electoral Maurice I Elector of Saxony (b Freiberg, March 21, 1521 &ndash d

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. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Metz (mɛs in French) is a city in the northeast of France, capital of the Lorraine région and Préfecture 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. Piedmont ( Piemonte; Piedmontese and Occitan: Piemont; French: Piémont) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest 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. Philip II (Felipe II de España Filipe I ( May 21, 1527 &ndash September 13 1598) was King of Spain from 1556 until 1598 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. Campagna is a small town and Comune of the Province of Salerno, in the Campania region of Southern Italy. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2

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. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Henry II (Henri II (31 March 1519 &ndash 10 July 1559 of the House of Valois and the son and successor of Francis I, was King of France from 31 These negotiations led to the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis. The Italian War of 1551 ( 1551 – 1559) sometimes known as the Habsburg-Valois War, began when Henry II of France, who had succeeded

Retirement and disgrace

3rd Duke of Alba in later life.

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. Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens ( Barcelona, 1528 — Brussels, March 5, 1576) Spanish governor of The Netherlands, had the

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 had 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. António Prior of Crato (ɐ̃ˈtɔniu Lisbon, 1531 – Paris, August 26, 1595; sometimes rarely called The Determined, The Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula.

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. The Battle of Alcântara took place on August 25, 1580, near the brook of Alcântara, in the vicinity of Lisbon, Portugal, and Entering Lisbon he seized an immense treasure, and allowed his soldiers to sack the suburbs and vicinity. Looting ( Hindi lūṭ akin to Sanskrit luṭhati steals also Latin latro, latronis

Alba, however, did not enjoy the honours and rewards of his last expedition, for he died at Lisbon on December 11, 1582. Lisbon (Lisboa liʒˈboɐ is the Capital and largest city of Portugal. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Spanish nobility are the persons who possess the legal status of Nobility, and the system of Titles and honours of Spain and of the former kingdoms that The Dukes of Alba ( es: Duque de Alba) are Spanish nobility and Grandees of Spain. Don Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo 4th Duke of Alba ( es: Don Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo cuarto duque de Alba) (1537 &ndash December Ferrante I Gonzaga (Italian Ferdinando I 28 January 1507 - 15 November 1557) was an Italian Condottiero, a member of The Governor of Milan ruled the Duchy of Milan as a representative of the King of Spain (1535–1706 and the Archduke of Austria (1706–1796 and (1799–1800 Cristoforo Madruzzo ( July 5, 1512 – July 5, 1578) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and statesman Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands ruled the Habsburg Netherlands, as a representative of the Duke of Burgundy ( 1506 - 1555) the King of Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens ( Barcelona, 1528 — Brussels, March 5, 1576) Spanish governor of The Netherlands, had the This is a list of Spanish Viceroys of Portugal from 1580 to 1640 A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. Albert VII Archduke of Austria (sometimes called Albrecht of Austria) ( 15 November 1559 &ndash 13 July 1621) was together The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The article is available here