Background
The Duke was son of Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart, 16th Duke of Alba and María del Rosario Falcó, 21st Countess of Siruela.
The Duke was son of Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart, 16th Duke of Alba and María del Rosario Falcó, 21st Countess of Siruela.
He was one of the most important aristocrats of his time, and held, among other titles, the Dukedoms of Alba de Tormes and Berwick, the Countship of Lemos, Lerín and Montijo and the Marquessate of Carpio. He served as Lord of the Bedchamber to the young King Alfonso XIII, who had acceded on his birth. In May 1902 royal visitors came to Madrid for the festivities to mark the King´s birthday and enthronement.
Between 2 February 1930 and 18 February 1931 Alba was Foreign Minister in Spain.
Alba became General Franco"s official representative in London. He was still the Ambassador there in 1939, when Neville Chamberlain"s cabinet formally gave Franco"s Nationalists diplomatic recognition.
Following World World War II, Alba"s relations with Franco markedly cooled, the result of Alba supporting a prompt monarchist restoration much more than Franco did. He was a leading guest at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Titles = Dukedoms = Count-Dukedoms = Marquisates = Countships = Viscountcies = Baronies Styles The Most Excellent The Duke of Huéscar (1878–1901).
The Most Excellent The Duke of Alba de Tormes (1901–1953). His Grace The Duke of Berwick (1901-1953).
Real Academia Española. Real Academia de la Historia. Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando.