Luis Manuel Fernández de Portocarrero
Encyclopedia
Luis Manuel Fernández de Portocarrero y de Guzman , (January 8, 1635 - September 14, 1709, Toledo, Spain
) was a Spanish prelate, who was cardinal
archbishop of Toledo. Uncle of Luis Antonio Tomas de Portocarrero y Moscoso, 5th Count, who became a Grandee of Spain, 2nd class, since 1707 by King Felipe V of Spain.
, title of 11 July 1623, and 3rd Count of Palma del Rio
, title of 22 November 1507, Luis Andres. He became dean of Toledo early, and was made cardinal on August 5, 1669.
Till 1677 he lived at Rome
as cardinal protector of the Spanish nation. In 1677 he was appointed interim viceroy of Sicily
, counsellor of state and archbishop of Toledo. He ceased to be viceroy of Sicily in 1678, being replaced by Vicente de Gonzaga y Doria
, (1602 - 1694) former Viceroy of Catalonia, 1664 - 1667, not to be confounded with his nephew Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla, (1634 - 1714).
As archbishop of Toledo he exerted himself to protect the clergy from the obligation to pay the excises or octroi duties known as "the millions" and thereby helped to perpetuate the financial embarrassments of the government.
His position rather than any personal qualities enabled him to play an important part in a great crisis of European politics. The decrepit King Charles II
was childless, and the disposal of his inheritance became a question of great interest to the European powers. Fernández de Portocarrero was induced to become a supporter of the French party, which desired that the crown should be left to one of the family of Louis XIV
, and not to a member of the king's own family, the Habsburgs. The great authority of Fernández de Portocarrero as cardinal
and primate of Spain was used to persuade, or rather to terrify the unhappy king into making a will in favor of the duke of Anjou, Philip V
.
He acted as regent till the new king reached Spain and hoped to be powerful under his rule. But the king's French advisers were aware that Spain required a thorough financial and administrative reform. Fernández de Portocarrero could not see, and indeed had not either the intelligence or the honesty to see, the necessity. He was incapable, obstinate and perfectly selfish. The new rulers soon found that he must be removed and he was ordered to return to his diocese. When in 1706 the Austrian party appeared likely to gain the upper hand, Fernández de Portocarrero was led by spite and vexation to go over to them.
When fortune changed he returned to his allegiance to Philip V, and as the government was unwilling to offend the Church he escaped banishment. In 1709 when Louis XIV made a pretence of withdrawing from the support of his grandson, the cardinal made a great display of loyalty. He died in September of the same year and by his orders the words Hic jacet pulvis, cinis, et nihil were put on his tomb (here lies dust, ashes and nothing).
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
) was a Spanish prelate, who was cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
archbishop of Toledo. Uncle of Luis Antonio Tomas de Portocarrero y Moscoso, 5th Count, who became a Grandee of Spain, 2nd class, since 1707 by King Felipe V of Spain.
Biography
A younger son of 1st the marquis of AlmenaraAlmenara
Almenara can refer to:* Almenara, Minas Gerais, a city in Brazil* Almenara de Adaja, a municipality in Valladolid province, Spain* Almenara de Tormes, a municipality in Salamanca province, Spain* Puebla de Almenara, a municipality in Cuenca province, Spain...
, title of 11 July 1623, and 3rd Count of Palma del Rio
Palma del Río
Palma del Río is a city located in the province of Córdoba, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the city has a population of 20640 inhabitants. Spanish singer Antonio José and matador El Cordobes is from there.-External links:...
, title of 22 November 1507, Luis Andres. He became dean of Toledo early, and was made cardinal on August 5, 1669.
Till 1677 he lived at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
as cardinal protector of the Spanish nation. In 1677 he was appointed interim viceroy of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, counsellor of state and archbishop of Toledo. He ceased to be viceroy of Sicily in 1678, being replaced by Vicente de Gonzaga y Doria
Vicente de Gonzaga y Doria
Vicente de Gonzaga y Doria, was Viceroy of Valencia, 1663, Viceroy of Catalonia, 1664–1667 and Viceroy of Sicily, 1678, second of the 11 sons/daughters of marquess Ferrante II Gonzaga, 1st Duke of Guastalla, , married in 1587 to Vittoria Doria, , daughter of Genoese Admiral of the Spanish Fleet...
, (1602 - 1694) former Viceroy of Catalonia, 1664 - 1667, not to be confounded with his nephew Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla, (1634 - 1714).
As archbishop of Toledo he exerted himself to protect the clergy from the obligation to pay the excises or octroi duties known as "the millions" and thereby helped to perpetuate the financial embarrassments of the government.
His position rather than any personal qualities enabled him to play an important part in a great crisis of European politics. The decrepit King Charles II
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
was childless, and the disposal of his inheritance became a question of great interest to the European powers. Fernández de Portocarrero was induced to become a supporter of the French party, which desired that the crown should be left to one of the family of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, and not to a member of the king's own family, the Habsburgs. The great authority of Fernández de Portocarrero as cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
and primate of Spain was used to persuade, or rather to terrify the unhappy king into making a will in favor of the duke of Anjou, Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
.
He acted as regent till the new king reached Spain and hoped to be powerful under his rule. But the king's French advisers were aware that Spain required a thorough financial and administrative reform. Fernández de Portocarrero could not see, and indeed had not either the intelligence or the honesty to see, the necessity. He was incapable, obstinate and perfectly selfish. The new rulers soon found that he must be removed and he was ordered to return to his diocese. When in 1706 the Austrian party appeared likely to gain the upper hand, Fernández de Portocarrero was led by spite and vexation to go over to them.
When fortune changed he returned to his allegiance to Philip V, and as the government was unwilling to offend the Church he escaped banishment. In 1709 when Louis XIV made a pretence of withdrawing from the support of his grandson, the cardinal made a great display of loyalty. He died in September of the same year and by his orders the words Hic jacet pulvis, cinis, et nihil were put on his tomb (here lies dust, ashes and nothing).