Alonso de la Cueva

Alfonso della Cueva-Benavides y Mendoza-Carrillo (first name also spelled Alonso, often used was the title Bedmar) (1572-August 10, 1655{{ref|bedmarDates}}) was a Spanish diplomat, bishop and cardinal. He was born in Bedmar, Spain, the son of Luis de la Cueva-Benavides, seqor of Bedmar, and Elvira Carrillo de Mendoza y Cárdenas, and died in Málaga and was buried in a cathedral there.

Related Topics:
August 10 - 1655 - Spanish - Diplomat - Bishop - Cardinal - Bedmar - Luis de la Cueva-Benavides - Seqor - Elvira Carrillo de Mendoza y Cárdenas - Málaga - Cathedral

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At a young age, Alfonso pursued a military career at the side of his father, who was the captain general of the Canary Islands. After 1590, he took his father's place in his absence, and a year later was named captain of the arcabuceros. After the death of his father in 1599, he became señor of his house and title and a commander of a cavalry company.

Related Topics:
Captain general - Canary Islands - 1590 - A year later - Captain - Arcabuceros - 1599 - Señor

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In December 23 1606{{ref|ambassadorshipDate}}, King Philip III made him the Spanish ambassador to the Republic of Venice. This was an important position due to the amount of information concerning European affairs which passed through the hands of the Spanish representative. When Bedmar took up this appointment, Venice had just concluded an alliance with France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands to counter Spain's power. Bedmar was instructed{{ref|conspiracy}} to destroy this league and, with the duke of Osonne, the viceroy of Naples, and the governor of the Milanese, planned a naval invasion to bring the city closer to the Spanish sphere of influence. The scheme was to be carried out on Ascension Day in 1618 but was revealed by the French, and Bedmar, protected by his position from arrest, left Venice.

Related Topics:
December 23 - 1606 - King - Philip III - Ambassador - Republic of Venice - France - Switzerland - Netherlands - Duke - Osonne - Viceroy - Naples - Milanese - Ascension Day

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After the fiasco of Venice, Bedmar went to Flanders as president of the council. On April 16 1610, King Philip III awarded him the Order of Alcántara. In 1614 he was made Marqués de Bedmar, which he would resign when promoted to the cardinalate. In 1618 Philip III charged him with the devolution of the territories conquered by the Spanish forces in Piedmont to the duke of Savoy. In 1622 he received the red hat of a cardinal{{ref|cardinality}}. Later Alfonso became the ambassador extraordinary and counselor of Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia and the Junta of War in Flanders.

Related Topics:
April 16 - 1610 - Order of Alcántara - 1614 - Marqués de Bedmar - 1618 - Devolution - Piedmont - Duke of Savoy - Ambassador extraordinary - Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands - Infanta - Isabella Clara Eugenia - Junta of War - Flanders

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The authorship of an anonymous work, Squitinio della libertd Veneta, published at Mirandola in 1612, has been attributed to him.

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