Luis de Benavides Carrillo, Marquis of Caracena
Encyclopedia
Luis Francisco de Benavides Carrillo de Toledo, Marquis of Caracena, Marquis of Fromista (Valencia
, September 20, 1608 – Madrid
, January 6, 1668) was a Spanish
general
and political figure. He served as Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1659 and 1664.
Raised in a noble Spanish family , he made career in the army during the many battles in Italy and Flanders between 1629 and 1659. He conquered the fortress of Casale Monferrato
in 1652.
He was Governor of Milan
between 1648 and 1656. After the defeat of John of Austria the Younger
in the Battle of the Dunes (1658)
, Caracena was appointed as his successor the next year. After the conclusion of the Treaty of the Pyrenees
, the Habsburg Netherlands had a period of peace. Despite this fact, government wasn't easy for Caracena, because by this time Spain was as good as bankrupt.
In 1664 he returned to Spain , to assume command of the war against Portugal
, which wasn't going very well after the defeat in 1663 in the Battle of Ameixial
, near Estremoz of the same John of Austria the Younger
. Caracena wasn't able to change the tide, he was defeated in the Battle of Montes Claros
, near Vila Viçosa
in 1665.
After the battle, Caracena was charged with treason and cowardness. But he defended himself claiming (not without reason) that not he was to blame, but the bad state of the Spanish army. Afterwards, he was disregarded and died of disease in 1668.
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
, September 20, 1608 – Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, January 6, 1668) was a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and political figure. He served as Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1659 and 1664.
Raised in a noble Spanish family , he made career in the army during the many battles in Italy and Flanders between 1629 and 1659. He conquered the fortress of Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
in 1652.
He was Governor of Milan
Governors of the Duchy of Milan
The Governor of Milan ruled the Duchy of Milan as a representative of the King of Spain and the Archduke of Austria and...
between 1648 and 1656. After the defeat of John of Austria the Younger
John of Austria the Younger
John of Austria was a Spanish general and political figure. He was the only natural son of Philip IV of Spain to be acknowledged by the King and trained for military command and political administration...
in the Battle of the Dunes (1658)
Battle of the Dunes (1658)
The Battle of the Dunes, fought on 14 June , 1658, is also known as the Battle of Dunkirk. It was a victory of the French army, under Turenne, against the Spanish army, led by John of Austria the Younger and Louis II de Condé...
, Caracena was appointed as his successor the next year. After the conclusion of the Treaty of the Pyrenees
Treaty of the Pyrenees
The Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed to end the 1635 to 1659 war between France and Spain, a war that was initially a part of the wider Thirty Years' War. It was signed on Pheasant Island, a river island on the border between the two countries...
, the Habsburg Netherlands had a period of peace. Despite this fact, government wasn't easy for Caracena, because by this time Spain was as good as bankrupt.
In 1664 he returned to Spain , to assume command of the war against Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, which wasn't going very well after the defeat in 1663 in the Battle of Ameixial
Battle of Ameixial
The Battle of Ameixial, was fought on June 8, 1663, near the village of Santa Vitória do Ameixial, some 10 km north-west of Estremoz, between Spanish and Portuguese as part of the Portuguese Restoration War....
, near Estremoz of the same John of Austria the Younger
John of Austria the Younger
John of Austria was a Spanish general and political figure. He was the only natural son of Philip IV of Spain to be acknowledged by the King and trained for military command and political administration...
. Caracena wasn't able to change the tide, he was defeated in the Battle of Montes Claros
Battle of Montes Claros
The Battle of Montes Claros, was fought on June 17, 1665, near Vila Viçosa, between Spanish and Portuguese as the last battle in the Portuguese Restoration War....
, near Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 195.0 km² and a total population of 8,745 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 5 parishes, and is located in the District of Évora....
in 1665.
After the battle, Caracena was charged with treason and cowardness. But he defended himself claiming (not without reason) that not he was to blame, but the bad state of the Spanish army. Afterwards, he was disregarded and died of disease in 1668.