Fernando Álvarez De Toledo Duke Of Alva Duke Of Marlborough

His grandfather, Ferdinand of 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. He was present at the battle of Mühlberg ( 1547Events January 16 Grand Duke Ivan IV of Muscovy becomes the first Tsar of Russia. January 28 Edward VI succeeds his father Henry VIII as King of England. February 20 Edward VI of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey March 31 Henry II succeeds his fathe), and the victory gained there over the Prince-Elector Johann Friederich of Saxony was due mainly to his exertions. He took part in the subsequent successful siege of WittenbergWittenberg officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg is a town in Germany, in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, at 12°59' east, 51°51' north. It has a population of about 50,000 inhabitants. Wittenberg is interesting chiefly on account of its close connection with Ma defended by the Electress, Sibylla, following which Alva presided at the court-martial which tried the Prince-Elector and condemned him to death as a rebel against the Catholic Emperor, wringing from him the Capitulation of WittenbergIn 1547, by the terms of the treaty known as the Capitulation of Wittenberg the Prince-Elector Johann Friedrich, Elector of Saxony, called the Magnanimous, was compelled to resign the electoral dignity, and the Duchy of Saxony and most of his territory, W (1547), in which he was compelled to resign the electoral dignity and most of his territory to the Catholic branch of the Saxon family. (The new elector sent the electoral library of early manuscripts to the Pope, in gratitude.)

In 1552Events April War between Henry II of France and Emperor Charles V. Henry invades Lorraine and captures Toul, Metz, and Verdun. October December Unsuccessful Siege of Metz by Charles V October 2 Khanate of Kazan falls to troops of Ivan IV of Russia Russia Alva was intrusted with the command of the army intended to invade FranceThe French Republic or France ( French: Republique francaise or France is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents., and was engaged for several months in an unsuccessful siege of MetzMetz is a city in the North-East of France, capital of the Lorraine region and of the departement of Moselle (57). It is located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille. History In ancient times Metz, then known as Divodurum, was the capital of th. 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. 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. Alva had subdued the whole Campagna and was at the gates of Rome, when he was compelled by Philip's orders to negotiate a peace.

Not long after this ( 1559) he was sent at the head of a splendid embassy to Paris to espouse, in the name of his master, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry, king of France (see Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis).

1 Alva in the Netherlands

In 1567, Philip, who was a bigoted Catholic, sent Alva into the Netherlands at the head of an army of 10,000 men, with unlimited powers for the extirpation of heretics. When he arrived he soon showed how much he merited the confidence which his master reposed in him, and instantly erected a tribunal which soon became known to its victims as the " Blood Council ," to try all persons who had been engaged in the late commotions which the civil and religious tyranny of Philip had excited. During the six years of his governorship, no less than 18,000 people were executed. He imprisoned the counts Egmont and Hoorn, the two popular leaders of the Protestants, and had them condemned to death.

His attempt to raise money by imposing the Spanish alcabala, a tax of 10% on all sales ("tenth penny" tax), aroused the opposition of the Catholic Netherlands themselves. The exiles from the Low Countries, who called themselves Geuzen (French gueux, "beggars"), encouraged by the general resistance to his government, fitted out a fleet of privateers, and after strengthening themselves by successful depredations, seized the town of Den Briel ( Brielle). Thus Alva by his cruelty became the unwitting instrument of the future independence of the seven Dutch provinces.

The fleet of the exiles, having met the Spanish fleet, defeated it, and reduced North Holland and Bergen. The States-General, assembling at Dordrecht, openly declared against Alva's government, and marshalled under the banners of the prince of Orange.

Alva's preparations to oppose the gathering storm were made with his usual vigour, and he succeeded in recovering Bergen, Mechelen and Zutphen, under the conduct of his son Don Fadrique. With the exception of Zealand and Holland, he regained all the provinces; and at last his son stormed Naarden, and massacring its inhabitants, proceeded to invest the city of Haarlem,which, after standing an obstinate siege, was taken and pillaged. Their next attack was upon Alkmaar; but there they were met with such desperate resistance that they were constrained to retire.

2 Retirement and disgrace

Alva'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.

On his return he was treated for some time with great distinction by Philip, till a love affair of Don Frederick dragged father and son into disgrace. Alva was banished from court and confined in the castle of Uzeda .

Here he had remained two years, when the success of Don Antonio in assuming the crown of Portugal determined Philip to turn his eyes towards Alva as the person in whose fidelity and abilities he could most confide. Appointed to the supreme command in Portugal in 1581, Alva soon defeated Antonio, drove him from the kingdom, and reduced the whole under the subjection of Philip. Entering Lisbon he seized an immense treasure, and allowed his soldiers to sack the suburbs and vicinity.

Alva, however, did not enjoy the honours and rewards of his last expedition, for he died at Thomar in January 1583.

Preceded by:
Margaret of Austria

Governors of the Habsburg Netherlands

Succeeded by:
Luis de Requesens y Zuñiga

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica

Alva, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Eighty Years' War

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1 Alva in the Netherlands

2 Retirement and disgrace

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