Francisco de Benavides

Who was Francisco de Benavides?

Francisco IV de Benavides y Dávila, Viceroy of Sicily, 1678–1687, Viceroy of Naples, 1687–1696, 9th Count of Santisteban del Puerto since March 1666, was the second son of Diego de Benavides, 8th Count of Santisteban,.

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His mother was Antonia Dávila y Corella, first wife out of three, totalling some 9 males/females, being 10th Countess of Cocentaina and the daughter of : Spanish aristocrat Jerónimo Ruiz de Corella, between other things, General of the Artillery radicated in the Duchy of Milan, Italy while her mother, a "Manrique", came from a family holding several marquisates and counties in Spain.

The title of Count of Santisteban del Puerto was awarded by king Henry IV of Castile on 21 September 1473 to Diego Sánchez de Benavides while the Grandee of Spain, was awarded to this Francisco IV de Benavides y Dánila, 9th Count by king Charles II of Spain on 8 July 1696.