María de Toledo y Rojas

María de Toledo or María Álvarez de Toledo (1490 - 11 May, 1549) was a Spanish noble and Vicereine and regent of the Spanish Colony of Santo Domingo on Hispaniola, present day Dominican Republic. She was the most powerful and highest-ranking noble in America in the XVI century and a defender of the liberties of the indigenous people in the Hispaniola.

Maria de Toledo was granddaughter of García Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Duke of Alba and niece of Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Duke of Alba, cousin of King Ferdinand II of Aragon "The Catholic".

She was married to Diego Columbus, the son of Christopher Columbus. Her spouse was viceroy of the Spanish colony of Hispaniola. They resided in Alcazar de Colon in the Ciudad Colonial (Santo Domingo).

During the absence of her spouse from 1514 until 1520, she was left in charge of the colony along with Geronimo de Aguero. In 1523, when Diego was recalled a second time, she was named virreina. She was then expecting their eighth child.

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