Vittorio Filippo Ferrero-Fieschi ( es, Felipe Víctor Ferrero Fieschi) (Madrid, 20 October 1713 – Barcelona, 26 October 1777) was an Italian naturalized Spanish nobleman, soldier and diplomat in the service of the Kingdom of Spain. He was the Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and the last effective prince of Masserano and marquis of Crevacuore.

Biography

He was the son of Victor Amadeo (1687–1743), 5th Prince of Maserano, and Juana Irene Caracciolo y Ruffo (1697–1721), from a well-known Neapolitan family. Originally from Piedmont, his father had entered the service of Spain and managed to become a relevant figure in the Court of Madrid, becoming Grandee of Spain, Knight in the

Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece ( es, Insigne Orden del Toisón de Oro, german: Orden vom Goldenen Vlies) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in 1430, to celebrate his marriage ...

, captain general and ambassador. Victor Philip entered the Spanish Army at the age of 13, served in Italy in 1742 under Montemar and had reached the rank of in Lieutenant general by 1745. He then remained at the Spanish Court as Gentleman of the chamber of the King and Captain of Life guards. He was elected a Knight of the Golden Fleece on 22 September 1752. Thanks to the rise to power of his friend

Jerónimo Grimaldi Jerónimo (European Portuguese and Spanish) or Jerônimo (Brazilian Portuguese) may refer to: * Jerónimo (name), a given or surname, Jerome in English ** Jeronimo (singer) (born 1990), Dutch pop singer and actor * Jeronimo (band), German band of ...

, he was appointed as Spanish Ambassador in London on 14 October 1763. His mission was broad and complex. The

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

had just ended with the

Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris may refer to one of many treaties signed in Paris, France: Treaties 1200s and 1300s * Treaty of Paris (1229), which ended the Albigensian Crusade * Treaty of Paris (1259), between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France * Trea ...

and he had to negotiate the execution of the peace treaty. At the same time, he had to try to put a stop to the English usurpations in the Americas, and to agree the details of the return of Manilla to Spain after the

British occupation of Manila The British occupation of Manila was an episode in colonial history of the Philippines when the Kingdom of Great Britain occupied the Spanish colonial capital of Manila and the nearby port of Cavite for twenty months from 1762 to 1764. The ...

(1762–1764). He always acted in full agreement with Grimaldi, maintaining with him not only the usual diplomatic correspondence, but also a continuous exchange of confidential letters. In 1770, he was faced by the Falkland Crisis, which brought Spain and England on the brink of a new war. Fulfilling the orders of his Court, he signed in London with the

Earl of Rochford Earl of Rochford was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1695 and became extinct in 1830. History The title of Earl of Rochford was created in 1695 for William Nassau de Zuylestein, one of the most trusted companions of his kins ...

the declaration of 22 January 1771, which satisfied a large part of the English claims. Tired and already ill, he returned to Spain between 1772 and 1775. Returning to London at the end of May 1775, he had to defend Spain against accusations of active sympathies for the rebels in the American colonies. The resignation of his patron Grimaldi in November 1776) was a very hard blow for him. Increasingly ill, he requested and obtained the permission to return to Spain to restore his health. He left London on 16 September 1777, and arrived in Barcelona on 19 October, where he died a week later. He was buried in the church of San Miguel.

Marriage and Children

Charlotte Louise de Rohan (1722-1786), princesse de Masseran

On 26 October 1737 he married Charlotte Louise de Rohan (1722–1786), daughter of

Hercule Mériadec, Prince of Guéméné Hercule Mériadec de Rohan (13 November 1688 – 21 December 1757) was a ''prince étranger'' and the sixth Duke of Montbazon in France, "Prince de Guéméne" being the title he bore prior to inheriting the dukedom. Lineage Born to Charles de ...

and

Louise de Rohan Louise de Rohan (Louise Gabrielle Julie; 11 August 1704 – 20 August 1780) was a French noblewoman and Princess of Guéméné by marriage. Biography Born in Paris to Hercule Mériadec de Rohan and his wife Anne Geneviève de Lévis, as a ...

, with whom he had : * stillborn daughter (1740) * Ferdinando Antonio (1746–1746) * Carlo Sebastiano (1760–1826), Ambassador of Spain in Paris, Golden Fleece, had issue. On 20 March 1767 Vittorio Filippo had sold the principality of Masserano and marquisate of Crevacuore to Savoy for 400,000 lire, retaining only the hereditary titles.

Sources

Real Academia de la Historia

Vittorio Filippo Ferrero Fieschi, principe di Masserano

Principato di Masserano
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferrero Fieschi, Victor Philip 1713 births 1777 deaths Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain Ambassadors of Spain to Great Britain Spanish people of Italian descent