Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 19th Duke of Alba, GE (né Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart; born 2 October 1948), is a Spanish aristocrat. He is the head of the House of Alba, one of the most prominent families of the Spanish nobility.
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Life and career
He was born in Madrid and is the eldest son of Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba (28 March 1926 in Madrid – 20 November 2014 in Seville) and her first husband, Luis Martínez de Irujo (17 November 1919 in Madrid – 6 September 1972 in Houston), a younger son of the 9th Duke of Sotomayor. In 1951 (at the age of 2), he became the 14th Duke of Huéscar – a title which was ceded to him by his grandfather, Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba and 13th Duke of Huéscar. He is a direct descendant of James II of England and VII of Scotland
He obtained a degree in law at the Complutense University of Madrid and now works as an adviser for several cultural institutions, such as the Hispania Nostra Foundation, the Valencia de Don Juan Institute, and the Hispanic Society of America. He is in charge of the House of Alba Foundation and, thus, in principle of a great deal of the significant House of Alba heritage and patrimony. He is also a Knight of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla.
Upon the death of his mother in 2014, he was first in line to succeed as 19th Duke of Alba (and Grandee of Spain) and also to inherit 38 other titles (10 of them with a Grandeeship of Spain). The succession to most of the titles was officially confirmed in 2015 except for the Lordship (Señorío) of Moguer and the County of Modica that have been inherited traditionally. Later in 2015, he ceded two titles – Duke of Huéscar to his elder son and heir apparent Fernando, and Count of Osorno to his younger son Carlos.
Family
On 13 June 1988, he married Matilde de Solís-Beaumont y Martínez de Campos in the Seville Cathedral. She is the daughter of Fernando de Solís y Atienza, 10th Marquess of la Motilla, and his wife Isabel Martínez de Campos Rodríguez, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Seo de Urgel.
The couple had two sons before their marriage was annulled in 2004:
Fernando Fitz-James Stuart y de Solís, 17th Duke of Huéscar, Grandee of Spain (born 14 September 1990); married Sofía Palazuelo Barroso on 6 October 2018.
Rosario Fitz-James Stuart y Palazuelo (8 September 2020)
Sofía Fitz-James Stuart y Palazuelo (10 January 2023)
Fernando Fitz-James Stuart y Palazuelo (10 September 2025)
Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y de Solís, 22nd Count of Osorno, Grandee of Spain (born 29 November 1991); married Belén Corsini de Lacalle on 22 May 2021.
Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Corsini (4 March 2024)
Fadrique Fitz-James Stuart y Corsini (9 June 2025)
Subsequently, between 2004 and 2006, he maintained a friendly relationship with Alicia Koplowitz, a Spanish businesswoman who ranked as Spain's richest woman in the Forbes World's Richest People list.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles
Dukedoms
19th Duke of Alba, Grandee of Spain
12th Duke of Berwick, Grandee of Spain
16th Duke of Huéscar, Grandee of Spain - ceded to his son Don Fernando
12th Duke of Liria and Jérica, Grandee of Spain
Count-Dukedoms
13th Count-Duke of Olivares, Grandee of Spain
Marquessates
17th Marquess of Carpio, Grandee of Spain
17th Marquess of La Algaba
19th Marquess of Barcarrota
11th Marquess of Castañeda
24th Marquess of Coria
15th Marquess of Eliche
17th Marquess of Mirallo
21st Marquess of la Mota
21st Marquess of Moya
13th Marquess of Osera
15th Marquess of San Leonardo
20th Marquess of Sarria
13th Marquess of Tarazona
16th Marquess of Valdunquillo
19th Marquess of Villanueva del Fresno
Honours
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic
Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. Vice Grand Prefect (1970–1990).
Knight of the Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius.