Gregorio de Silva y Mendoza (1649 in Pastrana – 1693 in Madrid) was a Spanish noble from the House of Mendoza. He was the 5th Duke of Pastrana, 9th Duke of the Infantado, 7th Duke of Lerma, 6th Duke of Francavilla, 5th Duke of Estremera, and the Prince of Eboli and Melito.
Contents
Family origins
He was the son of Rodrigo de Silva Mendoza y Guzmán, the 4th Duke of Pastrana and his wife, Catalina Gómez de Sandoval y Mendoza, the 8th Duchess of the Infantado. The Mendoza family rose to power when it merged with the House of Lasso de la Vega through the marriage of Leonor Lasso de la Vega, the last direct member of that line, and Admiral Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, the admiral of Castile.
Biography
He inherited his noble titles after the deaths of his mother and father respectively. In 1679, he was sent to Paris with his brothers Gaspar and José to take the newly crowned Queen Marie Louise of Orléans her bridal gifts which consisted of a painting by Juan Carreño de Miranda of Charles II of Spain. The painting's frame was embedded with diamonds. The group left Madrid on 30 July 1679 and arrived in the French Court on 14 September. The ostentatious gift was met with great happiness as is recounted in a contemporary Spanish recording from the day which refers to the Queen, Elisabeth of France's surprise.
"Assi logro el Señor Duque de Pastrana muy cumplidamente el avivar en la corte de Francia la memoria (que siempre vivirá en ella) de su Grande y Generoso Abuelo que fue con el propio carácter, por nuestra inmortal Reyna D.Isabel y se porto con el inimitable lucimiento que ahora su dignissimo Nieto"