James Fitz-James Stuart, 2nd Duke Of Berwick

James Fitz-James Stuart, 2nd Duke of Berwick, 2nd Duke of Liria and Xerica, was born on 21 October 1696 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, and died on 2 June 1738 in Naples, Italy. He was a member of the Jacobite and Spanish nobility.

Family Background:

His father was James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, an illegitimate son of King James II of England and Arabella Churchill, sister of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. His mother was Lady Honora Burke (1675–1698), the second daughter of William Burke, the seventh Earl of Clanricarde, and widow of Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan. His mother died in Pezenas, in the Languedoc, South of France, less than 18 months after his birth. After her death, his father remarried, resulting in James Fitz-James Stuart having twelve half-siblings, including the eldest half-brother who was ancestor of the French Dukes of Fitzjames.

Titles and Honors:

He inherited numerous titles in both the Jacobite and Spanish nobility following his father's death in 1734 at the Battle of Philippsburg during the War of the Polish Succession. His full title included: 2nd Duke of Berwick, 2nd Earl of Tinmouth, 2nd Baron Bosworth, 2nd Duke of Liria and Xerica, and Grandee of Spain 1st class from 1716. He was a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece from 29 September 1714, and held several earldoms through marriage.

Marriage and Issue:

On 31 December 1716, he married Catalina Ventura Colón de Portugal y Ayala-Toledo, the dowager Duchess of Veragua, who was born on 14 July 1690 and died on 3 October 1739. She was the daughter of Pedro Manuel Colon de Portugal y de la Cueva. The marriage made him duke-consort of Veragua and of la Vega. They had six children, four of whom survived to adulthood:

- James Fitz-James Stuart, 3rd Duke of Berwick (28 December 1718 – 30 September 1785), who married Maria Teresa De Silva y Haro.

- Pedro de Alcántara (1720–1791), who became Captain General of the Spanish Navy; married María Benita de Rozas y Drummond with no issue.

- Ventura (born 1724), who married María Josefa Gagigal y Monserrat and had one son.

- Maria Guadalupe (1725–1750), who married Francesco Maria Pico, Duke of Mirandola, without issue.

Career:

James Fitz-James Stuart served under Elizabeth of Parma, engaged in military campaigns from 1717 to 1719 aimed at restoring Naples and Sicily to Spanish control, which led to the creation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He held the rank of colonel of Irish regiments in Spain and was promoted to Lieutenant General of the Spanish Royal Armies, achieving the rank of Field Marshal in February 1724.

Diplomatic Service:

He served as the Spanish ambassador to Russia from December 1726 to 1730, accompanying Ricardo Wall, who later became a Spanish government minister. During his time in Russia, he was appointed a Knight of the Russian Orders of Saint Andrew and Saint Alexander Nevsky, and was made a Garter Knight on 3 April 1727. On 28 March 1728, he founded the Order of the Anti-Sober in Saint Petersburg. From 1730 to 1733, he was ambassador in Vienna, then served as ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples from 1733 until his death in 1738.

Ancestry:

He was a grandson of King James II of England through his illegitimate son James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, whom James II fathered with Arabella Churchill.