Duke of Sueca


Duke of Sueca is a title of Spanish nobility, Grandee of Spain 1st class. It was created by King Charles IV of Spain in 1804 for Manuel Godoy, who was the Prime Minister of Spain from 1792 to 1797 and from 1801 to 1808. Its name refers to Sueca in the Province of Valencia in Spain.

Manuel Godoy

King Charles IV also granted to Manuel Godoy the Duchy of Alcudia, the Barony of Mascalbó and the title of Prince of the Peace. The granting of the latter was an exception in Spanish noble history; since the Middle Ages, no one had held the princely dignity in Spain except the heir of the crown, who did so through three titles: Prince of Asturias, Gerona and of Viana.
He was granted the Portuguese county of Évoramonte, which was due to his marriage to the Countess of Chinchón. However, he was exiled in 1808 when Spain came under Bonaparte rule, and he was not authorized to return to Spain until 1844.
Godoy was also, by papal concession, Prince of Bassano, a title he obtained after acquiring the Italian fief of Bassano di Sutri, located between Rome and Viterbo, during his long exile in Rome.
It seems that he was also "Marqués de Álvarez", as it is named in different documents, although it is a title that was never used by his successors, nor has anyone attempted to rehabilitate it, nor is it stated in the Cast of Greatness and Titles Nobiliarios Españoles or in the Directory of the Diputación de la Grandeza. He was also "Lord of Soto of Rome" and "Viscount of High Andalusia".

Title holders

History of the dukes

I Duke: Manuel Godoy, I Duke of Sueca, I Duke of la Alcúdia and I :es:Baronía de Mascalbó|Baron of Mascalbo. He also received the title of :es:Principado de la Paz|Prince of Peace, :es:Principado de Bassano|Prince of Bassano, and I :es:Condado de Évoramonte|Count of Évoramonte. He married: Doña María Teresa de Borbón y Vallabriga, XV Countess of Chinchón, who was the eldest daughter of the Cardinal-Infante Don Luis de Borbón y Farnesio. His daughter succeeded him:
II Duke: Carlota Godoy and Bourbon,II Duchess of Sueca, twice gandee of Spain, I marquess of Boadilla del Monte. He married in Rome on November 8, 1821 with Camilo Rúspoli and Khevenhüller-Mestch, Roman prince, son of Francesco Ruspoli, III prince of Cerveteri, and of the countess Maria Leopoldina de Khevenhüller-Metsch. Her son succeeded grandson her:
III Duke: Carlos Rúspoli y Álvarez de Toledo, Godoy and Silva-Bazán, III Duke of Sueca, III Duke of la Alcudia, XVII Count of Chinchón, IV Count of Évoramonte, in Portugal. Grandee of Spain 1st class. He married Carmen Caro and Caro, of the Marquesses of the Romana. His son succeeded him:
IV Duke: Camilo Rúspoli y Caro, Alvarez de Toledo and Caro, who reunites all the titles, both of Manuel Godoy, and of the Infanta Maria Teresa, by which he became the IV Duke of Sueca, IV Duke of la Alcudia, XVIII Count of Chinchón, and VI Marquess of Boadilla del Monte. Grandee of Spain 1st class. He married Belén Morenés and Arteaga, XVIII Countess of Bañares. His son succeeded him:
V Duke: Carlos Rúspoli y Morenés, Caro and Artega, V Duke of Sueca, V Duke of la Alcudia, XIX Count of Chinchón. Grandee of Spain 1st class. Without issue. His nephew succeeded him:
VI Duke: Luis Ruspoli and Sanchiz, Morenés and Nuñez-Robres, VI Duke of Sueca, VI Duke of la Alcudia, XX Count of Chinchón. Grandee of Spain 1st class. VIII Marquis of Boadilla del Monte and III Baron of Mascalbó. He married Maria Alvarez de las Asturias Bohorques and Rumeu, of the Dukes of Gor.

Family tree