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• Personal life

Birth and parentage

• Born in Madrid in the late palace Alcañices the April 4, 1825, the son of Nicholas Osorio and Zayas (1793-1866), first successor in title of Marquis of Alcañices and Balbases, and later in the Duke Albuquerque, uniting in his person eighteen titles of nobility and six Mightinesses of Spain, who served the Crown of Spain, and Lord Steward of King Francis of Assisi of Bourbon, Butler and Equerry Isabel de Borbon y Borbon, Princess of Asturias, Spain Large Gentleman with exercise and servants of Queen Isabel II of Spain, Alfonso XII ay be príncipe.2
• Her mother was Francisca Inés de Silva-Bazán (1806-1865), daughter of Joseph Gabriel Silva-Bazán and Waldstein, tenth Marquis of Santa Cruz de Mudela, and Maria Joaquina Téllez-Girón and Alfonso Pimentel, Countess of Osilo. He had six children, of whom only survived Joaquin, who had a close relationship throughout his life, who gave the County Corzana for him and his successors, marrying Maria de las Mercedes de Heredia and Zafra-Vazquez, third Marchioness of Arenales.2
• From childhood he was educated by the most prestigious teachers of the time, and learned to speak English, French and Italian in 1834 entered the school Masarnau of Madrid, under the University of Madrid. The family spent summers in Cuéllar (Segovia), whose family owned the castle and was intended for this purpose since the Albuquerque Dukes moved to live with the court, also often visited Ledesma on your vacation. Attended since childhood the Royal Palace of Madrid, where he went with his mother who was a great friend of Queen Maria Cristina, and after the death of the king and the subsequent initiation of the first Carlist War, the family went into exile in Italy, settling in Rome, Naples and Palermo.3

His marriage and other romantic relationships

• Considered one of the best singles of the moment by his fortune and his wealthy noble titles, 4 girl was in love with Francisca de Portocarrero, Countess of Montijo IX, daughter of Cipriano Palafox and Maria Manuela Kirkpatrick, XV Counts of Teba, ending married in 1844 with James Fritz-James Stuart, Duke of Alba XV de Tormes. To approach her became friends with his sister, Eugenia de Montijo (future Empress of France by her marriage to Napoleon III of France) but she loved him; 5 to know the reality tried to kill herself with a concoction of phosphorus and milk . In 1853 the Duke wrote announcing his commitment to the French Emperor, and after the silence he sent a telegram saying "The emperor has asked for my hand, what should I do?". Duke's response came just days before marriage, through a note that said only "Whether you very happy," 5 July 6 Another of his loves should be Pedraza María Josefa de la Peña, known as Pepita Peña, who later married in Mexico with Marshal François Achille Bazaine, famous for his contribution to the French defeat in the Franco-Prusiana.8
• Finally in 1868, being in Deauville (France) accompanied in exile in the Spanish Royal family, met the Russian princess Sophie Troubetzkoy, who was widowed three years before Charles Auguste de Morny, half brother of Napoleon III precisely. Sophie's paternity was disputed between Prince Sergei Troubetzkoy Vassilievitch and the very Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, who felt admiration for her mother, Ekaterina Petrovna Moussine-Pushkin, something she presumía.9 Valentine from the start, moved Spain, and February 20, 1869 obtained royal license to marry Elizabeth II, which finally took place in Vitoria on 21 March of the same year.10
• His wife, considered one of the most beautiful women and elegant nineteenth-century Europe, dazzled the court with its cosmopolitan spirit and enthusiasm for the monarchy, in addition to their tastes in fashion and decoration, they were soon imitated as much as they had been in France. A few years after marriage at the request of Sofia, was carried out a major refurbishment of the Palace of Alcañices, adjusting to taste the family home where you installed the first Christmas tree in Spain, at the request of the Duchess at Christmas of 1870.1 was awarded the Order of Noble Ladies of Mary-Louise, and Antonio Canovas del Castillo appointed his personal secretary, 10 supported her husband in the restoration of the monarchy, actively participating: became fashionable among the ladies aristocracy of the pin with the emblem of the House of Bourbon, the lily, and starred in the popular rebellion of the blankets to show Spanishness of the people against Amadeus of Savoy and Maria Victoria Pozzo.11
• Without having succession in marriage, Sophia died on July 27, 1897, and Pepe survived twelve years. Shortly before his death, he called his nephew Michael, who declared his heir and asked him before he blows the intense correspondence exchanged with Paca Portocarrero, whom he loved, to Eugenie de Montijo, who had loved him him, and Sophia, his woman.1

Titles, decorations and favors

Awards and decorations of the Duke of Sesto

• He received his first award in 1844 at age 19 when he was admitted to the Royal Cavalry of Seville. It happened after many appointments, such as the collar and knight grand cross of the Order of Carlos III to Elizabeth II awarded him in 1863, and whose order was subsequently Chancellor on an interim basis. Other awards were the men's Spanish-collar Illustrious Order of the Golden Fleece, the Gold Medal of Alfonso XIII or Acting Chancellor of the Order of Isabel the Catholic. She was also imposed foreign decorations, such as Knight-Grand Cross of the Order of Christ in Portugal, that of knight grand cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of Italy, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle of Prussia or the Legion of Honor of France, and others in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Hungary, Switzerland and Turquía.13
• As eldest son, to his father's death occurred at his palace in the Calle de Alcala on January 31, 1866, succeeded him in seventeen titles, with five Mightinesses of Spain. In addition to the Duchy of Sesto, for which he was known, occupied the duchies of Albuquerque and Algete, six marquisates, among which was that of Alcañices, who used frequently, and eight counties within which highlighted the La Corzana, with Grandee of Spain, who gave his brother Joaquín.2
• From child is instructed in weapons, practicing trendy games, such as fencing, for which he had a room at home. His father was one of the twelve founders in 1841 of the Society for the Promotion of Horse Breeding of Spain, so their children instilled a passion for riding. Since childhood he was a great horseman, riding the Mozanaque Soto, a family farm located in Algete, which is always accompanied by his uncle Juan de Silva, the future Marquis of Arcicóllar, who was younger than himself, Andres Arteaga , Marquis of Valmediano and married a sister of his mother, his cousin James Mendez de Vigo, Count of Santa Cruz and Nicolas Patino Manueles, Marquis of Castellar, among others, who were known for their age as "the chickens '. Later the group would join the children of the Duke of Alba, James, the future Duke, and Henry, Earl of Galve.4
• He led the royal stud and was huntsman of Alfonso XII, and groom of infants. Throughout his life he held various positions in different institutions involved in horse racing. So in 1855 he joined the General Association of Cattlemen of the Kingdom, and two years later was appointed to the jury for the Exhibition of Cattle. Later he was a member of the commission Purchase of horses for the deposits of State (1860-1864), the Board of Agriculture, and member of the Society for the Promotion of Horse Breeding, entity of which his father was a founding partner and he ended up presiding over the period 1886-1907. Other positions held were president of the commission delegated Equestrian Contest of 1892 and the registration of thoroughbred horses and a member of the board of deposits sementales.4
• A few days before his removal from his post as president of the Council of Ministers because of the crisis Rigodón, namely October 16, 1857, Leopoldo O'Donnell was appointed mayor of Madrid, a post he held until 1864, a year late and being back in power, O'Donnell also extended the appointment appointing him corregidor.14
• Considered one of the best mayors the city had, January 14 spent much of his term to try to eradicate dirt and odors to create a clean and modern capital. They created public urinals, and issued an edict forbidding people to perform their bodily functions in public under a fine of 20 pesetas, an amount was excessive for the time. This made anonymously will paint it with the ban on cartels known verses dedicated to the new mayor «Four hard to pee? Wow, how expensive it is! What do you charge for shit the Duke of Sesto? '.15
• Relief created ten houses, one for each of the districts in which then divided the city, the first of which is the district center, which was based in the building of the Hospice of San Fernando Real. With the desire to preserve the testimony of the artistic heritage of the city, made an inventory and photographic record of all existing sources, the draft also included churches, convents, palaces and other prominent buildings, but it came to concluir.14
• In 1860, important developments occurred both in his personal life and in politics. In April the queen got amnesty for Francisco Cavero, cousin of the Empress Eugenie, who was a lieutenant general of the armies Carlists, convicted of taking part in the uprising of San Carlos de la Rapita, starring Jaime Ortega and Olleta. On May 2, received in the city to the troops of the African war after the victory at the Battle of Tetuan and June 21 as mayor, corregidor attended as a witness at the christening of Princess Mercedes, I'd end up Queen consort. That year ended with the death of Paca de Alba, one of the great loves of his youth, whose funeral was organized by him, and held in Carabanchel.14
• After the fall of O'Donnell and turbulent change of power, ended its mandate to deliver the baton Mesía Jose Pando, Duke of Tamames. He was also three times as civil governor of Madrid in the years 1861-1863, 1865-1866, 1874-1875, projected periods when making a photo album of thieves, thugs and murderers so that witnesses could recognize them. When Amadeo visited Spain to meet the royal family, it was he who took care to welcome you and accompany you through the most picturesque city, and was very efficiently after the cholera outbreak of 1865, which lost his mother. Finally resigned his post as governor after being appointed head of the royal palace on top 1875.14
• On 28 November 1857 Queen Elizabeth had given birth to a new man, named Alfonso, and the day after the delivery was made chamberlain and chamberlain. On this appointment two hypotheses: a reward for loyalty shown by the family and especially by his father Nicholas, who had served the kings, or as compensation for the murder of his brother Joaquin palace at the hands of Juan Antonio de Urbiztondo and in the presence of King Francis itself, thereby ensuring that the event continue oculto.14 During childhood the prince became his principal mentor, but was also educated in religious matters by Fernando de la Puente and Primo de Rivera, Archbishop of Burgos . By then he was responsible for the four children born of his wife's previous marriage, his two nephews, sons of his deceased brother Joaquin, and his cousin Julio Quesada Canaveral, son of the Earls of Benalúa V, which was orphaned in 1867 and was granted custody by kinship to them unía.14
• In 1866 he received news of the plans intended to carry out the members of the Liberal Union with the Progressive Party, and I informed the queen, who two years later he regretted not having heard, after the Revolution of 1868 performed by them. On September 19 the revolution broke out that dethroned Queen Elizabeth, and before the latter's refusal to accompany him, he went to Deauville with his family where he had acquired a large villa, returning back to Spain in search of the royal family, and after standing at the border returned to Madrid for their pertenencias.16
• The royal family in exile was supported by an account of 500,000 francs which the Duke had opened in Paris from 1871 until the Restoration, and he did renew its general manager, 17 while the debts carried by the queen in Switzerland itself were covered by Sophie Troubetzkoy. The prince's education was entrusted to Pepe, who settled first in the college Stanislas de Paris, and then moved to the Royal and Imperial Academy of Vienna TA to continue his studies, being finalized at the Royal Academy Sandhurst in Inglaterra.16
• Noting the political landscape in which the country was the only way to restore the monarchy was that Elizabeth II abdicate in favor of his son, and talked about it the Duke of Sesto with the queen until he had convinced her. The efforts made to carry out the abdication is reflected in the chronicle, which tells how one day the queen said to the Prince "Alfonso, give a hand to Pepe, who has managed to make King" an abdication 18 The document was granted on June 25, 1870, and the first witness to sign was the duke of Sesto.1
• The family of the Duke returned to Madrid to complete, upon learning of the future arrival of the new king, Amadeo I of Spain. Once in the capital, were devoted to socially isolate the new monarchs as they worked with Antonio Canovas del Castillo in everything he asked. The palace became the seat Alcañices meetings and parties Alfonsists, and therefore the target of his opponents, where part of the club failed to explode a artefacto.19 There Duchess scheduled by the Marquise de Bedmar, the Turret the countess of Castellar de Tilly and the famous Revolt of the Saddle (1871) 16 The Count of Benalúa, then living with the family, recalls in his memoirs "Our house was a constant bustle of politics Alfonsina. My aunt Sofia gathering was constant: general, politicians, ladies, diplomats and most notable of Madrid society then '.20
• Often the Dukes traveled to France and Vienna to meet the prince and the queen, whom they informed of the situation that existed in Spain: civil war in the North, cantonal struggles in the Levant and overseas, and the emerging independence Cuba. In addition, we did get letters from Canovas and other politicians, and seized the opportunity to attend events and meetings that brought together supporters of the monarchy were exiled. On one trip, accompanied the royal family to the train station, which put for Rome to visit Pope Pius IX. Finally, on December 1, 1874, the Prince of Asturias signed Sandhurst Manifesto, a document showing their willingness to become king under a parliamentary monarchy, and that started the political process of the restauración.21
• The document had been drawn up between Canovas and the prince himself, 22 and the draft was passed to clean by Sophia, the Duchess de Sesto, who acted as secretary of Canovas. The Dukes helped distribute the manifest throughout the city, and Sofia hidden two copies sent to Russia so that the first European nations to acknowledge the liberal monarchy is iniciaba.23

Restoration of the monarchy

• With the restoration he was appointed Chief Executive of the Palace.
• Your financial contribution to the cause alfonsina is calculated between the 15 million real-Quesada July figure Canaveral, VIII Duke of San Pedro de Galatino and Count VI Benalúa, 24 and 20 million reais pointing Antonio Maria Fabie and Escudero who also maintains that after the triumph of the monarchy did not consent to collect a single penny, and whose father was a close friend of Sesto and Cánovas.17 In 1879 the marriage was virtually destroyed, and began to sell some of its properties, such as was the palace of the street of Alcala, and a significant number of farms that belonged to them County Ledesma (Salamanca) and other family estates in Ecija and Alcala de Guadaíra (Sevilla) .21

Last years of service to the court

• On November 25, 1885 Alfonso XII died, and the next day resigned as Chief Executive of the palace, but not left the court as it has been considered. It is also terminated on charges of Butler, Equerry, Keeper and most of the late King Montero. His resignation as head of the Palace was accepted by the Queen, who appointed as his successor to Jose Joaquin Alvarez de Toledo y Silva, Duke of Medina Sidonia, while he was awarded the fourth highest Stewardship of the Princesses Mary of Mercy , the then Princess of Asturias, and Maria Teresa, Princess of Bavaria by marriage, while maintaining the direction of the royal stud. A year later he received the post of Gentleman of the King's posthumous son, Prince Alfonso, and later accompanied the family to spend the summer in Comillas.12
• When the dowager queen began to audit the accounts of the royal treasury, he observed periodically for four years was fought a series of numbers in their favor, so he did call for an explanation, it was economical small doses that the deceased King had been returning to his friend, taking a loan the money the Marquis de Alcañices invested in the maintenance of the royal family and the restoration of the monarchy. The Marquis did not want to explain to the queen because the professed mutual antipathy that she consider him guilty for the ramblings of her husband and him trying to remove him from it, so to the palace and when asked by the Queen offered the remaining assets of his diminished fortune, to elect from among themselves, finally shedding the Duchy of Sesto and all its property in Italy, which had meant so much to him, and whose title had been known, and that the queen sold years later. After this event on July 18, 1889 submitted his resignation on all counts of the palace and retired permanently from the corte.1 12

Final stage of his life

• After leaving the service palatine resumed again his political career, as well as business to do business and travel through Europe with his wife. In mid-1890 was appointed dean of the Permanent Delegation of Greatness, and in November the same year the widow Eugenia de Montijo was invited to a party at his home in Farnborough (Hampshire), who used to live a few months out of Spain. He returned after being named vice president of the Senate of Spain, Madrid and once in the Liberal-Conservative Party gave the vice president of honor. Continued to maintain relationship with the royal family, and in 1891 he witnessed the marriage of the Princess of Asturias to Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and as a grandee of Spain with his wife represented the Prince Alfonso at the wedding of Villamanrique Marquis, later was appointed to the commission that went to the French border to collect the remains of King Francis of Assisi Borbón.12
• In the financial and business outlook in 1891 joined the board of directors of the Railway Company of Puerto Rico, and a year later at the Monte de Piedad and Savings Bank in Madrid, jobs that he combined with other charges as of deputy mayor of Madrid, president of the clinic in the district of Buenavista or the regional commissioner and chairman of the organizing committee of Spain's participation in the Paris Exhibition of 1896. During the following year was inspector of the houses of the capital relief, until in 1900 he moved to France with the officer in charge of Public Instruction, where he was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor for his services.

Illness and death

• On 10 December 1909 municipal elections were held for mayor of Madrid, which resulted in the departure of Alberto Aguilera and the entry of José Francos Rodríguez. Despite his advanced age, a cold winter and the request of his nephew Michael came to vote, and its last departure from home, as the cold developed into pneumonia by the day. On December 30 a soup lunch and smoked a cigar in his chair and died at one o'clock, the day coinciding with the start of the Bourbon Restoration antes.12 thirty-five years
• On the day of his death, the newspaper ABC echoed his health by informing readers that "The Marquis de Alcañices respectable, sixth Duke of care is sick. The state of the illustrious patient is not hopeless, but his advanced age breathes concern. Late yesterday afternoon had experienced some improvement '.25 The next day the same newspaper published his obituary, which he defines:
• A man of clear intelligence, very knowledgeable, courteous and gentlemanly in his dealings, of unblemished loyalty to the Kings, who served with true religion, and jealous lover of his country like an old Castilian master. Causeur witty and entertaining, worldly man, who had intervened directly in climactic scenes of interest at the time of the Restoration and early years of the Regency, in his mind should have a file of interesting arrangements, sometimes memories that evoked in conversation but without ever crossing the limits of confidentiality and discretion, and those who could make more of an evocative memoir and exciting that would clarify some points momentous events in modern history.

ABC Journal, December 31, 1909, p. 7.13

• The chapel was installed in the main hall of his palace on a tapestry embroidered by his widow. By his express desire, did not attend the wake and the Royal Corps of Royal Guards Laureate Alabarderos that member of the Golden Fleece belonged, and was buried the next day in the cemetery of San Isidro in Madrid, with a large sample of popular grief 13
• King Alfonso XIII was in Granada when the news, and asked his brother Ferdinand of Bavaria (husband of Maria Teresa de Borbon) that come to his name. Given the large number of people had to participate municipal guards on horseback, the procession started from his home across the Puerta del Sol and the Bridge of Toledo, where a mass of enthusiastic locals cheered as he was its mayor, and also because special privilege the coffin passed by the Palace of Oriente.12 was accompanied by several representatives of the Royal Family, the entire government, the City Council and the diplomatic corps and the ecclesiastical authorities. There were also various bodies of the Royal Guard, many of the most important aristocracy of Madrid and palatine officials. The only wore the coffin flowers were a bouquet of violets sent by the Queen Mother Maria Cristina in homage, and a bouquet of flowers on behalf of itself seats Alfonso XIII.26 12
• His remains were taken after the family vault in the cemetery of La Almudena, where they rest today. The Madrid government granted a street named Duque de Sesto in his honor, located in the neighborhood of Salamanca.12