Armorial of FitzJames |
|
| Country | Kingdom of England, Kingdom of France, Kingdom of Spain |
|---|---|
| Titles |
Numerous titles
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| Founder | James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick |
| Current head | Jacobo Hernando FitzJames-Stuart y Gomez, 12th Duke of Berwick |
| Founding | 1670 |
| Cadet branches | House of Alba |
The House of FitzJames (or the House of FitzJames-Stuart) is a noble house of British-origin founded by James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick who was the illegitimate son of James II & VII, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, a Catholic monarch from the House of Stuart.[1] After the Revolution of 1688, the Duke of Berwick followed his father into exile and much of their history since then has been in Spain and France, with several members of the house serving in a military capacity.
There became two lines of the house; the most senior carrying the title Duke of Berwick and residing in Spain, is the result of the 1st Duke of Berwick's marriage to Irishwoman, Honora Burke. This line has collected many titles throughout their history and has had some activity as ambassadors, military generals and has produced a few Grandees of Spain. The line associated with France, derived from the 1st Duke of Berwick's second marriage to Englishwoman, Anne Bulkeley carried the title Duke of Fitz-James.
Perhaps the best known of the France associated line was Edward FitzJames, 5th Duke of FitzJames. An émigré who escaped to Italy after the French Revolution, he was later to return around the time of the Bourbon Restoration and was involved in ultraroyalist politics. This line died out in 1967 with the death of James FitzJames, 9th Duke of FitzJames. The senior line in Spain continues on to the present day where the head is currently Jacobo FitzJames-Stuart y Gomez, 12th Duke of Berwick.