María del Rosario de Silva, Duchess of Alba

Doña María del Rosario de Silva y Gurtubay, Duchess of Alba de Tormes, 9th Marchioness of San Vicente del Barco, GE (4 April 1900 – 11 January 1934) was a Spanish aristocrat and socialite.

The Most Excellent María del Rosario de Silva
Marchioness of San Vicente del Barco Duchess consort of Alba
Portrait of the Duchess of Alba, wearing Spanish mantilla, by Ignacio Zuloaga.
Full name	María del Rosario de Silva y Gurtubay
Born	4 April 1900 Madrid, Spain
Died	11 January 1934(1934-01-11) (aged 33) Madrid, Spain
Buried	Monastery of Inmaculada Concepción (Loeches)
Noble family	House of Híjar, House of Silva
Spouse(s)	Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba
Issue	Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba
Father	Alfonso de Silva, 16th Duke of Híjar
Mother	María del Rosario Gurtubay y González de Castejón

Early life

María was born in Madrid, Spain on 4 April 1900. She was the sole heiress of all the titles of her father, Alfonso de Silva, 16th Duke of Híjar, and of the fortune of her mother, María del Rosario Gurtubay, the young Marchioness was one of the beauties of her time.

Personal life

She married in London, on 7 October 1920, to Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba, thus becoming the Duchess of Alba. Before her death, they were the parents of a daughter:^[1]

• Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart (1926–2014), who married Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz in 1947. After his death in 1972), she married Jesús Aguirre y Ortiz de Zárate in 1978. After his death in 2001, she married Alfonso Díez Carabantes in 2011.^[2]

The Duke and Duchess travelled to the United States in 1924, visiting Chicago, New York, Washington, and Long Island.^[3]

She stayed with her family in the Liria Palace in Madrid and died there of tuberculosis on 11 January 1934, aged only 33.^[3]

Ancestry

Ancestors of María del Rosario de Silva, Duchess of Alba

8. Andrés de Silva, 13th Duke of Aliaga 4. Alfonso de Silva, 15th Duke of Híjar 9. María Isabel Campbell 2. Alfonso de Silva, 16th Duke of Híjar 10. Luis Fernández de Córdoba, 15th Duke of Medinaceli 5. María del Dulce Nombre Fernández de Córdoba y Pérez de Barradas 11. Ángela Pérez de Barradas, 1st Duchess of Denia and Tarifa 1. María del Rosario de Silva, 9th Marchioness of San Vicente del Barco 12. José María Simón Gurtubay y Zubero 6. Juan Gurtubay y Meaza 13. Rosalía Meaza y Basterra 3. María del Rosario Gurtubay y González de Castejón 14. Luis González de Castejon y Gil-Delgado 7. Adelaida González de Castejón y Torre 15. Adelaida Torre de Lequerica y Uríbarri

References

1. "DUKE OF ALBA A FATHER.; Daughter Born in Madrid Will Enjoy Eighty Spanish Titles". The New York Times. 29 March 1926. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
2. Minder, Raphael (21 November 2014). "The Duchess of Alba, an Unconventional Aristocrat, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
3. "DUCHESS OF ALBA DEAD IN MADRID; Noted Beauty Was Member of Distinguished Spanish Family Was Married in London. VISITED HERE WITH DUKE Husband Was Alfonso's Last Foreign Minister and Grandnephew of Empress Eugenie" (PDF). New York Times. 12 January 1934. Retrieved 6 April 2019.