Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba
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Doña María del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, better known as the 18th and present Duchess of Alba de Tormes, is the third female to carry the title in her own right.
She was born March 28, 1926 in Madrid as the only child of Don Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó, 17th Duke of Alba (1878-1953) and his wife, the former Maria del Rosario de Silva y Gurtubay, 15th Duchess of Aliaga and 9th Marchioness of San Vicente del Barco (1900-1934). She is the current head of the House of Alba.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, Doña Cayetana has more titles than any other noble in the world. She has eight other ducal titles, 15 marquesal titles, 19 comital titles and is 20 times a Grandee of Spain. For a full list of the titles she holds, please refer to the House of Alba article.
[edit] Life and family
On October 12, 1947 Doña Cayetana married Don Pedro Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artacoz (1919-1972), son of the Duke of Sotomayor. The wedding was a great social event and was described by the newspaper Liberation as "the most expensive wedding of the world".[1] Six children were born of this marriage, all of whom have received noble titles with Grandee of Spain from their mother.
- Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 18th Duke of Huéscar, born October 2, 1948 in Madrid. In 1988, he married Matilde Solís y Martínez de Campos, but they later divorced.
- Fernando Juan Fitz-James Stuart y Solís (born September 14, 1990 in Madrid)
- Carlos Arturo José María Fitz-James Stuart y Solís (born November 29, 1991 in Madrid)
- Alfonso Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, Duke of Aliaga, born October 22, 1950 in Madrid. On July 4, 1977, he married María de la Santisima Trinidad de Hohenlohe y de la Cuadra (born April 8, 1957), whom he later divorced.
- Jacobo Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, Count of Siruela, born on July 15, 1954 in Madrid. On November 1, 1980, he married María Eugenia Fernández de Castro y Fernández-Shaw (born October 15, 1954), from whom he's currently separated.
- Jacobo Martínez de Irujo y Fernández de Castro (born January 23, 1981).
- Brianda Eugenia Martínez de Irujo y Fernández de Castro (born April 11, 1984).
- Fernando Martínez de Irujo, Marquis of San Vicente del Barco, born July 11, 1959.
- Cayetano Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, Count of Salvatierra, born April 4, 1963 in Madrid. He married Genoveva Casanova, from Mexico, with whom he has two children, Luis and Amina.
- María Eugenia Brianda Timotea Cecilia Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, 11th Duchess of Montoro, born November 26, 1968. On October 23, 1998, she married bullfighter Francisco Rivera Ordóñez. The couple divorced in 2002.
- Cayetana Rivera y Martínez de Irujo (born October 16, 1999).
After becoming a widow, the duchess remarried on March 16, 1978 to Dr. Jesús Aguirre y Ortiz de Zárate (1937-2001), a doctor of Theology and a former Jesuit priest. Eleven years younger than the Duchess, he maintained a good relationship with her children. During their marriage he administered, with his stepson Carlos, the Alba estates.[2]
The duchess is a well-known socialite in Spain and is featured prominently on various television shows and in various media reports.
[edit] References
- ^ La Revista: Nosotros los Alba (Spanish). Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ Algorri, Luis (2001-05-21). Jesús Aguirre Ortiz de Zárate, Duque de Alba (Spanish). Personajes Cántabros. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
