Juan Domingo de Zuñiga y Fonseca
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Juan Domingo de Zuñiga y Fonseca (Madrid, November 25, 1640 - Madrid, February 2, 1716) was a Spanish military and political figure.
Originally named Juan Domingo Méndez de Haro y Sotomayor, he was the son of Luis Méndez de Haro, 6th Marquis of Carpio, prime minister of King Philip IV of Spain, and Doña Catalina Fernández de Córdoba.
He married Doña Inés Francisca de Zúñiga, 6th Countess of Monterrey, and eldest daughter of Don Fernando de Ayala, third Count of Ayala. Juan Domingo took on the titles of his wife.
In 1667 he went to the Spanish Netherlands and became Capitain General of the Cavalry in 1669. In 1670 he became Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands and Capitain General in the absence of Don John of Austria the Younger.
In 1671, when war threatened between France and the Netherlands, Spain allied itself to the Netherlands and Zuñiga y Fonseca became Spanish supreme commander in the North.
He organised defences , fortifying the fortresses on the French border. This couldn't prevent that Spain and its defences played a minor part in the following Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678).
He was recalled to Spain on February 8, 1675.
On May 25 1677 he was named Viceroy of Catalonia, where he was also confronted with a French invasion. In 1678 he returned to Madrid where he became President of Flanders. He was admitted to the State Council in 1693. In 1705 under the French king Philip V of Spain he left the State Council together with the marquis of Mancera.
In 1710 his wife died without issue and Zuñiga y Fonseca decided to dedicate the rest of his life to God and became a priest.
| Preceded by Iñigo Fernandez de Velasco |
Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands 1670–1675 |
Succeeded by Carlos de Gurrea, Duke of Villahermosa |
[edit] Source
- Biography (in Spanish)
