Individual Details
Eleonora Álvarez de Toledo Marquesa de Villafranca
(1522 - 18 Dec 1562)
Eleonora was born in Toledo about 1522, the daughter of Don Pedro Alvarez de Toledo, marques de Villafranca, and Maria Osorio-Pimentel, 2.marquesa de Villafranca. On 29 March 1539 in Florence she married Cosimo de' Medici, son of Giovanni delle Bande Nere de' Medici and Maria Salviati.
The marriage with Cosimo was arranged undoubtedly not only for her large dowry but also for political and dynastic reasons. Florentine politics were not Eleonora's only attraction to the Medici, new to their ruling status; her royal Castilian ancestors and relations to the Habsburgs provided the Medici with the blue blood they had hitherto lacked in order to place them on an equal footing with European sovereigns. Eleonora, through her father, provided the Medici with a powerful link to Spain, at that time ultimately controlling Florence, providing Cosimo with the opportunity to show sufficient loyalty and trust in Spain for the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the province.
Eleonora and Cosimo had eleven children of whom Francesco, Ferdinando and Isabella would have progeny. Eleonora, who is credited with being the first modern style first lady or consort, died on 18 December 1562 in Pisa. After her death Pope Pius IV conferred the title of Grand Duke on her husband.
Source: Leo van de Pas
The marriage with Cosimo was arranged undoubtedly not only for her large dowry but also for political and dynastic reasons. Florentine politics were not Eleonora's only attraction to the Medici, new to their ruling status; her royal Castilian ancestors and relations to the Habsburgs provided the Medici with the blue blood they had hitherto lacked in order to place them on an equal footing with European sovereigns. Eleonora, through her father, provided the Medici with a powerful link to Spain, at that time ultimately controlling Florence, providing Cosimo with the opportunity to show sufficient loyalty and trust in Spain for the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the province.
Eleonora and Cosimo had eleven children of whom Francesco, Ferdinando and Isabella would have progeny. Eleonora, who is credited with being the first modern style first lady or consort, died on 18 December 1562 in Pisa. After her death Pope Pius IV conferred the title of Grand Duke on her husband.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1522 | Toledo | |||
| Marriage | 29 Mar 1539 | Firenze - Cosimo I. de' Medici Grand Duke of Toscana | |||
| Death | 18 Dec 1562 | Pisa | |||
| Burial | San Lorenzo, Firenze | ||||
| Biography |  |  |
Families
| Spouse | Cosimo I. de' Medici Grand Duke of Toscana (1519 - 1574) |
| Child | Isabella de' Medici Princess of Toscana (1542 - 1576) |
| Father | Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, marques de Villafranca et Zuniga (1484 - 1553) |
| Mother | María Osorio-Pimentel, 2. marquesa de Villafranca (1495 - ) |
Notes
Biography
Eleonora was born in Toledo about 1522, the daughter of Don Pedro Alvarez de Toledo, marques de Villafranca, and Maria Osorio-Pimentel, 2.marquesa de Villafranca. On 29 March 1539 in Florence she married Cosimo de' Medici, son of Giovanni delle Bande Nere de' Medici and Maria Salviati.The marriage with Cosimo was arranged undoubtedly not only for her large dowry but also for political and dynastic reasons. Florentine politics were not Eleonora's only attraction to the Medici, new to their ruling status; her royal Castilian ancestors and relations to the Habsburgs provided the Medici with the blue blood they had hitherto lacked in order to place them on an equal footing with European sovereigns. Eleonora, through her father, provided the Medici with a powerful link to Spain, at that time ultimately controlling Florence, providing Cosimo with the opportunity to show sufficient loyalty and trust in Spain for the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the province.
Eleonora and Cosimo had eleven children of whom Francesco, Ferdinando and Isabella would have progeny. Eleonora, who is credited with being the first modern style first lady or consort, died on 18 December 1562 in Pisa. After her death Pope Pius IV conferred the title of Grand Duke on her husband.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Endnotes
1. Genealogics.org, Leo van de Pas online [http://www.genealogics.org/index.php], accessed 2008 on, http://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00000070&tree=LEO.