José Rafael de Silva Fernández de Híjar, 12th Duke of Híjar

José Rafael de Silva Fernández de Híjar y Palafox, 12th Duke of Híjar (29 March 1776 – 16 September 1863), was a Spanish noble who was a director of the Prado Museum between 1826 and 1838, and Sumiller de Corps between 1824 and 1854.

José Rafael de Silva Fernández de Híjar y Palafox
Portrait of the Duke of Híjar, by Bernardino Montañés, c. 1863–1870.
Born(1776-03-29)29 March 1776
Madrid, Spain
Died16 September 1863(1863-09-16) (aged 87)
Madrid, Spain
Spouse
Juana Nepomucena Fernández de Córdoba Villarroel Spínola y la Cerda
(m. 1801; died 1813)
Children3
Parent(s)Pedro de Alcántara Fernández de Híjar y Abarca de Bolea, 9th Duke of Híjar
Rafaela de Palafox y Croy d'Havré
AwardsGrand Cross of the Order of Charles III
Order of Santiago

Early life

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José Rafael was born in Madrid on 29 March 1776. He was the second son of Pedro de Alcántara Fernández de Híjar y Abarca de Bolea, 9th Duke of Híjar and Rafaela de Palafox y Croy d'Havré.[1]

He unexpectedly became Duke of Híjar in 1818 when his elder brother, Agustín Pedro Fadrique, 10th Duke of Híjar, died in 1817 and his brother's only daughter, Francisca Javiera, 11th Duchess of Híjar, died in 1818. He also inherited the titles of Duke of Lécera, Almazán and Bourneville, as well as Count-Duke of Aliaga, Marquess of Ornani, Almenara and Torres, and Count of Belchite, Salinas, Ribadeo and Aranda.[2]

Career

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He was a Senator, a Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Santiago. He fought against the French and reached the rank of Lieutenant general.

In 1824, King Ferdinand VII of Spain made him Sumiller de Corps and in 1826, he became Director of the Prado Museum. During his period as director, the museum acquired the Christ Crucified by Velázquez, and the collection of María Teresa de Borbón, 15th Countess of Chinchón.[2] He kept the museum's collection together in the uncertain times following the death of King Ferdinand VII of Spain.[3]

Personal life

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In 1801, he married Juana Nepomucena Fernández de Córdoba Villarroel Spínola y la Cerda (1785–1813), 8th Countess of Salvatierra, and had three children:[1]

The Duke of Híjar died in Madrid in 16 September 1863.[1]

Descendants

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Through his eldest son Cayetano, he was a grandfather of Agustín de Silva y Bernuy, 14th Duke of Híjar.[7] As the 14th Duke died without issue, he was succeeded in the family titles by his first cousin, Alfonso de Silva y Campbell, who became the 15th Duke of Híjar. The 15th Dukes father, who was still living, had renounced his right to the titles in favor of his first-born son.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d The Titled Nobility of Europe: An International Peerage, Or "Who's Who", of the Sovereigns, Princes and Nobles of Europe. Harrison & Sons. 1914. p. 320. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Fernández de Híjar, José Rafael Fadrique, XIII duque de Híjar". www.museodelprado.es. Prado Museum. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  3. ^ "José Rafael Fadrique de Silva Fernández de Híjar , 12th Duke of Híjar". www.museodelprado.es. Prado Museum. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Agustín de Silva y Bernuy Fernández de Híjar". dbe.rah.es. Real Academia de la Historia. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  5. ^ The American Genealogist. D.L. Jacobus. 1954. p. 109. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Alfonso de Silva Fernández de Híjar y Campbell". dbe.rah.es. Real Academia de la Historia. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ^ Vicent, Vicente de Cadenas y (1993). Caballeros de la Orden de Santiago que efectuaron sus pruebas de ingreso durante el siglo XIX (in Spanish). Ediciones Hidalguia. p. 268. ISBN 978-84-87204-53-1. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Alfonso de Silva y Campbell XVI Duque de Híjar". www.fundacionmedinaceli.org. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
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