Manuel de Moura y Corte Real, 2nd Marquis of Castel Rodrigo
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Manuel de Moura y Corte-Real, 2nd Marquis of Castel Rodrigo, (in full), (1590 – 28 January 1651), was Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1644 to 1647.
Manuel de Moura y Corte Real was the second of three marquises named Castelo Rodrigo
. Although the family served the King of Spain
, it was Portuguese
and its roots were in Lisbon
. The family traced its origin to the reconquest of Moura (Alentejo, Portugal) from the Moors
, during the Reconquista
in 1165, but its fortune was established in the late sixteenth century, when Cristóvão de Moura (1528–1613), the first Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo backed the claims of the Spanish king, Philip II
, to the throne of Portugal
in the 1580 Portuguese succession crisis that led to the Iberian Union
. As agents of the Spanish crown, the family gained wealth and prominence.
Manuel de Moura y Corte Real married Leonor de Melo. His oldest surviving son and heir, Francisco de Moura, destined to become the third Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo was born in 1610. Like his father, he eventually became governor
of the Southern Netherlands
.
Manuel entered the service of the Habsburg crown in 1615 as Gentleman of the Chamber of the future Philip IV
. When the prince succeeded to the throne as Philip IV in 1621, Castelo Rodrigo was kept on the sidelines by his jealous rival Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares
, still insecure in his position as favorite.
Castelo Rodrigo was transferred back to Lisbon to arm a fleet in 1627, but was recalled to court temporarily in 1630, when Olivares decided to put his rival to use in the service of Habsburg diplomacy. Castelo Rodrigo was appointed ambassador to Rome
, where he was a patron to Borromini and the sculptor François Duquesnoy
.
Castelo Rodrigo's embassy came to an end with the revolt of Portugal in December 1640. He remained unswervingly loyal to the Spanish Habsburg crown, suffering extensive losses of family lands in Portugal, Even so, it was impolitic to have a Portuguese serving as a Spanish ambassador during the revolt, and Olivares was not completely sure of his Castelo Rodrigo's loyalty.
In 1642, he was sent to Vienna
, where he served until May 1644. From June 1644 he served in Brussels as adjunct governor of the Netherlands. He worked for the cause of peace between the United Provinces
and Spain
, and was instrumental in the preliminary negotiations which set in motion the peace conference of Münster
. He served as Philip IV's trusted minister until his recall in 1647.
Castelo Rodrigo arrived in Madrid on 14 January 1648, where he is recorded in 1649 in the position of majordomo in the royal palace. A portrait formerly ascribed to Velázquez
shows him bearing his age with dignity . He died in Madrid in 1651 at the age of 61.
Manuel de Moura y Corte Real was the second of three marquises named Castelo Rodrigo
Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 508.6 km² and a total population of 6,884 inhabitants.Located in the Riba Coa , just like other municipalities around Riba Coa, such as Almeida, Meda, Pinhel and Sabugal...
. Although the family served the King of Spain
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...
, it was Portuguese
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...
and its roots were in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
. The family traced its origin to the reconquest of Moura (Alentejo, Portugal) from the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
, during the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
in 1165, but its fortune was established in the late sixteenth century, when Cristóvão de Moura (1528–1613), the first Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo backed the claims of the Spanish king, Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, to the throne of 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...
in the 1580 Portuguese succession crisis that led to the Iberian Union
Iberian Union
The Iberian union was a political unit that governed all of the Iberian Peninsula south of the Pyrenees from 1580–1640, through a dynastic union between the monarchies of Portugal and Spain after the War of the Portuguese Succession...
. As agents of the Spanish crown, the family gained wealth and prominence.
Manuel de Moura y Corte Real married Leonor de Melo. His oldest surviving son and heir, Francisco de Moura, destined to become the third Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo was born in 1610. Like his father, he eventually became governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
.
Manuel entered the service of the Habsburg crown in 1615 as Gentleman of the Chamber of the future Philip IV
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
. When the prince succeeded to the throne as Philip IV in 1621, Castelo Rodrigo was kept on the sidelines by his jealous rival Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares
Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares
Don Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel Ribera y Velasco de Tovar, Count-Duke of Olivares and Duke of San Lúcar la Mayor , was a Spanish royal favourite of Philip IV and minister. As prime minister from 1621 to 1643, he over-exerted Spain in foreign affairs and unsuccessfully attempted domestic reform...
, still insecure in his position as favorite.
Castelo Rodrigo was transferred back to Lisbon to arm a fleet in 1627, but was recalled to court temporarily in 1630, when Olivares decided to put his rival to use in the service of Habsburg diplomacy. Castelo Rodrigo was appointed ambassador to 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...
, where he was a patron to Borromini and the sculptor François Duquesnoy
François Duquesnoy
François Duquesnoy was a Baroque sculptor in Rome. His more idealized representations are often contrasted with the emotional character of Bernini's works, while his style shows greater affinity to Algardi's sculptures....
.
Castelo Rodrigo's embassy came to an end with the revolt of Portugal in December 1640. He remained unswervingly loyal to the Spanish Habsburg crown, suffering extensive losses of family lands in Portugal, Even so, it was impolitic to have a Portuguese serving as a Spanish ambassador during the revolt, and Olivares was not completely sure of his Castelo Rodrigo's loyalty.
In 1642, he was sent to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he served until May 1644. From June 1644 he served in Brussels as adjunct governor of the Netherlands. He worked for the cause of peace between the United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and Spain
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...
, and was instrumental in the preliminary negotiations which set in motion the peace conference of Münster
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
. He served as Philip IV's trusted minister until his recall in 1647.
Castelo Rodrigo arrived in Madrid on 14 January 1648, where he is recorded in 1649 in the position of majordomo in the royal palace. A portrait formerly ascribed to Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
shows him bearing his age with dignity . He died in Madrid in 1651 at the age of 61.