Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, 1st Duke of Feria (1520?–1571) was a Spanish nobleman and diplomat, and close advisor of

Philip II Philip II may refer to: * Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC) * Philip II (emperor) (238–249), Roman emperor * Philip II, Prince of Taranto (1329–1374) * Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1342–1404) * Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1438-1497) * Philip ...

's. Probably born in

Zafra Zafra () is a town situated in the Province of Badajoz (Extremadura, Spain), and the capital of the comarca of Zafra - Río Bodión. It has a population of 16,677, according to the 2011 census. Zafra is the hometown of Fray Ruy Lopez, author ...

Extremadura Extremadura (; ext, Estremaúra; pt, Estremadura; Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is an autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, it ...

, he was the second son of Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, 3rd Count of Feria, and his wife, Catalina Fernandez de Córdoba, Marchioness of Priego. In 1551, he became 5th Count of Feria upon the death of his elder brother Pedro, and in 1554, he travelled with Philip of Spain to England for the king's marriage to

Queen Mary I Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. Sh ...

. He served as Captain of the King's Guard, and was regarded as only second to Ruy Gómez in the king's confidence. He went on to fight against the rebellion in the Low Countries, at the Battle of St Quentin. After

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...

's accession, he served as Philip's ambassador until he was succeeded by Bishop

Álvaro de la Quadra Álvaro de la Quadra (? – 1564) was a Spanish churchman and diplomat. He was Prelate and Ambassador to England during Elizabeth I of England reign. He was bishop of Aquila and Venosa and attended the Council of Trent. He was a descendant of I� ...

, in May 1559. Blasón del I Duque de Feria

On 29 December 1558, Feria married Mary I's former

maid-of-honour A maid of honour is a junior attendant of a queen in royal households. The position was and is junior to the lady-in-waiting. The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts. Role Traditionally, a queen ...

, Lady

Jane Dormer Jane Dormer, Duchess of Feria (6 January 1538 – 13 January 1612) was an English lady-in-waiting to Mary I who, after the Queen's death, married Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, 1st Duke of Feria and went to live in Spain, where she wou ...

, a match resisted by both their families. Feria and his wife maintained a strong interest in the protection of English Catholic exiles; the former ambassador also supported the

Ridolfi Plot The Ridolfi plot was a Roman Catholic plot in 1571 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. The plot was hatched and planned by Roberto Ridolfi, an international banker who was able to travel betwee ...

of 1571. In 1567, Philip II created the count 1st Duke of Feria. Feria returned to Spain where he served the King as royal chamberlain. After Feria's death, he was buried in

, in the Convent of Santa Clara.
He was succeeded by his elder and only surviving son, Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, who served as ambassador to the Low Countries and viceroy of Naples. Feria's younger son, Don Gomez, who served as governor of Milan, predeceased his father.

References

* Loades, David (2008)
"Suárez de Figueroa, Gómez, first duke of Feria in the Spanish nobility (1520?–1571)"
''

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

''. Oxford University Press. online edn. Oct 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2010. (subscription required) * A Patron and a Playwright in Renaissance Spain: The House of Feria and Diego ... by Ann E. Wiltrout People of the Tudor period 101 16th-century Spanish people 1520s births 1571 deaths Ambassadors of Spain to England {{Spain-noble-stub