Cristóbal de Sandoval, Duke of Uceda

Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval-Rojas y de la Cerda, known as the duque de Uceda (Duke of Uceda), but also titled second marquis of Cea, fifth marquis of Denia, and knight of the order of Santiago (1581 – 31 May 1624 in Alcalá de Henares) was the official minister of state, also known as the valido or valued one, for King Philip III of Spain. He engineered the exile of his father the Duke of Lerma, from the court, and his own succession to the position.

Son of Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Lerma and Catalina de la Cerda, main lady in waiting for the queen Margaret of Austria. His birthdate and place are unclear, and placed between 1577 and 1581. Cristóbal married in 1597 with Mariana de Padilla Manrique, daughter of Martín de Padilla Manrique, first count of Santa Gadea y Adelantado Mayor of Castille. Her mother was Luisa Manrique de Lara, eighth countess of Buendía. They had seven children, three of which reached adult age, including:

In 1609, he bought Uceda, and the subsequent year received the title of Duke of Uceda from the King. The intrigue by Cristóbal to replace his father as valido included known opponents of the Duke of Lerma, including the royal confessor, Luis de Aliaga, and Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares. In 1618, the unpopular Duke of Lerma fell from favor, and was subsequently made a cardinal with offices outside of Madrid.

The Duke of Uceda, appointed as Sumiller de Corps and Caballerizo mayor to the King, followed a policy to benefit landowning nobility, including his clan. He built the ostentatious Palacio of the Duke of Uceda in Madrid. In foreign policy, he continued the suppression of the religious-based rebellion in Bohemia, and sought the annexation of Portugal. In 1621, upon the ascent of Philip IV of Spain, he was substituted in an intrigue, which involved his former ally, the Count-Duke of Olivares, who replaced him. Cristóbal, like his father was exiled to a castle in Torrejón de Velasco. Much of his property was confiscated, and though he was briefly released and gained some level of pardon, he was re-arrested and died in jail at Alcalá de Henares.

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