García Álvarez de Toledo
1st Duque de Alba de Tormes
(c. 1440–88)

Biographical

1st Duque de Alba de Tormes 1472–88†
1st Marqués de Coria 1472–88†
2nd Conde de Alba de Tormes 1464–88†
1st Conde de Salvatierra
Conde del Barco
5th Señor de Valdecorneja 1464–88†
Señor de Salvatierra 1464–88†
Adelantado mayor of Castile

Despite receiving significant favours from Enrique IV of Castile, García was not initially noted for his loyalty to the monarch. In 1459, five years after Enrique's accession, García joined early efforts to form a noble league against the king, alongside Alfonso Carrillo, seeking greater influence for the aristocracy. Enrique, aware of these moves, expressed frustration, asserting that García owed him unwavering loyalty for the generosity he had shown. By April 1465, a meeting at Madrid’s Alcázar aimed to restore governance to its state in 1457 and 1461, pressing the king to honour promises made in Valdebro and Abadía. García’s absence from this crucial gathering highlighted his importance, prompting Enrique to visit him in Salamanca with significant concessions, including Carpio, Abadía, and Granadilla. Over four days, García requested a fresh start, pledging renewed fidelity to the crown. Tensions escalated with the influence of Enrique’s second wife, Juana of Portugal, whose pro-Portuguese stance alienated the nobility. In 1466, Juana orchestrated an alliance between García, the Marquis of Santillana, the Duke of Alburquerque, and the Bishop of Calahorra, promising García control of Plasencia or Ciudad Rodrigo, displacing their current holders. García’s support provided a crucial boost to the enriqueño faction. By 1470, a peace proposal led by Alfonso Carrillo pleased Enrique IV, but left García disappointed. To compensate, he was granted the title of Duke of Alba in 1472.

Place of burial: Monastery of San Leonardo, Alba de Tormes

Son of Fernand Álvarez de Toledo and Mencía de Carrillo, he married María Enríquez in 1448, and had issue:
• Mencía, c. 1458–<77, married to Beltrán de la Cueva in c.1482, with issue
• Francisca, *c. 1460, married to Francisco de la Cueva in 1476, with issue
• Fadrique (see)
• Gutierre (see)
• Pedro (see)
• Fernando (see)
• García (see)
• Enrique (see)
• María (see)
• Teresa, †1487, married in 1482 to Pedro Manrique