Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval-Rojas y de la Cerda, known as the Duque de Uceda (Duke of Uceda), but also titled second marquis of Cea, fifth marquis of Denia, and knight of the

order of Santiago The Order of Santiago (; ) is a religious and military order founded in the 12th century. It owes its name to the patron saint of Spain, ''Santiago'' ( St. James the Greater). Its initial objective was to protect the pilgrims on the Way of S ...

(1581 – 31 May 1624 in

Alcalá de Henares Alcalá de Henares () is a Spanish municipality of the Community of Madrid. Housing is primarily located on the right (north) bank of the Henares River, Henares. , it has a population of 193,751, making it the region's third-most populated Municip ...

) was the official minister of state, also known as the ''valido'' or ''valued one'', for King

Philip III of Spain Philip III (; 14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621) was King of Spain and King of Portugal, Portugal (where he is known as Philip II of Portugal) during the Iberian Union. His reign lasted from 1598 until his death in 1621. He held dominion over the S ...

. He engineered the exile of his father the

Duke of Lerma Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, 5th Marquess of Denia, 1st Count of Ampudia (1552/1553 – 17 May 1625), was a favourite of Philip III of Spain, the first of the '' validos'' ('most worthy') through whom the later H ...

, from the court, and his own succession to the position.

Biography

Son of

Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, 5th Marquess of Denia, 1st Count of Ampudia (1552/1553 – 17 May 1625), was a favourite of Philip III of Spain, the first of the ''validos'' ('most worthy') through whom the later Ha ...

and Catalina de la Cerda, main lady in waiting for the Queen consort Margaret of Austria. His birthdate and place are unclear, and placed between 1577 and 1581. Cristóbal married in 1597 with Mariana de Padilla Manrique, daughter of Martín de Padilla Manrique, first count of Santa Gadea and ''Adelantado Mayor'' of Castile. Her mother was Luisa Manrique de Lara, eighth Countess of Buendía. They had seven children, three of which reached adult age, including: *Luisa Gómez de Sandoval-Rojas y Padilla who married

Juan Alfonso Enríquez de Cabrera ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of '' John''. The name is of Hebrew origin and has the meaning "God has been gracious." It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking countries around the world and in the Phili ...

, IX Admiral of Castile and Duke of Medina de Rioseco. *Isabel Gómez de Sandoval-Rojas y Padilla who married

Juan Tellez-Girón y Enriquez de Ribera, 4th Duke of Osuna Juan Tellez-Girón y Enriquez de Ribera, 4th Duke of Osuna (15 November 1597 – 12 October 1656) was Viceroy of Sicily from 1655 to 1656. He was the only male descendant of Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna who was born in December ...

. *Francisco Gómez de Sandoval-Rojas y Padilla, who became the second Duke of Uceda, and who married Felice Enríquez de Cabrera. In 1609, he bought Uceda, and the subsequent year received the title of

Duke of Uceda Duke of Uceda () is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1610 by Philip III to Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval, who succeeded his father Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma ...

from the King. The intrigue by Cristóbal to replace his father as ''valido'' included known opponents of the Duke of Lerma, including the royal confessor, Luis de Aliaga, and

Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel, 1st Duke of Sanlúcar, 3rd Count of Olivares, , known as the Count-Duke of Olivares (taken by joining both Count of Olivares, his countship and Duke of Sanlúcar la Mayor, subsequent dukedom) (6 January 1587 – 2 ...

. In 1618, the unpopular Duke of Lerma fell from favor, and was subsequently made a

cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal most commonly refers to * Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of three species in the family Cardinalidae ***Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'', the common cardinal of ...

with offices outside of Madrid. The Duke of Uceda, appointed as

Sumiller de Corps The Sumiller de Corps was the Officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain in charge of the more intimate and inner rooms of the King of Spain. He was responsible of the most immediate service to the Monarch. This Office was s ...

and

Caballerizo mayor The Caballerizo mayor (Great Equerry) was the Officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain. This role included oversight of the trips, the mews, and the hunt of the King of Spain. Regime during the 16th to 18th centuries ...

to the King, followed a policy to benefit landowning nobility, including his clan. He built the ostentatious

Palacio of the Duke of Uceda The Palace of the Councils or Palace of the Duke of Uceda (in Spanish, Palacio de los Consejos or Palacio del duque de Uceda) is a building from the 17th century located in central Madrid, Spain. It is located on the Calle Mayor, corner of calle Ba ...

in Madrid. In foreign policy, he continued the suppression of the religious-based

Bohemian Revolt The Bohemian Revolt (; ; 1618–1620) was an uprising of the Kingdom of Bohemia, Bohemian Estates of the realm, estates against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty that began the Thirty Years' War. It was caused by both religious and power dispu ...

, and sought the annexation of

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

. In 1621, upon the ascent of

Philip IV of Spain Philip IV (, ; 8 April 160517 September 1665), also called the Planet King (Spanish: ''Rey Planeta''), was King of Spain from 1621 to his death and (as Philip III) King of Portugal from 1621 to 1640. Philip is remembered for his patronage of the ...

, he was substituted in an intrigue, which involved his former ally, the Count-Duke of Olivares, who replaced him. Cristóbal, like his father was exiled to a castle in

Torrejón de Velasco Torrejón de Velasco is a municipality of the Community of Madrid The Community of Madrid (; ) is one of the seventeen autonomous communities and 50 provinces of Spain, provinces of Spain. It is located at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula a ...

. Much of his property was confiscated, and though he was briefly released and gained some level of pardon, he was re-arrested and died in jail at

External links

Biography in Spanish of the Duke of Uceda
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomez de Sandoval Rojas, Cristobal Uceda, Duke of Spanish royal favourites Uceda, Duke of Uceda, Duke of

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