Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma
The Duke of Lerma | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal-priest of San Sisto | |
Francisco Goméz de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Lerma, Spanish statesman, by Peter Paul Rubens (1603). Located in the Prado. | |
| Installed | March 1621 |
| Term ended | 17 May 1625 |
| Predecessor | Giambattista Leni |
| Successor | Laudivio Zacchia |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | March 1622 |
| Created cardinal | 26 March 1618 by Pope Paul V |
| Rank | Cardinal-priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1552 |
| Died | 17 May 1625 (aged 72) Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Valido of the King of Spain | |
| In office September 1598 – October 1618 | |
| Monarch | Philip III |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval |
| Viceroy of Portugal and the Algarves | |
| In office 1598–1600 | |
| Monarch | Philip III |
| Preceded by | Albert VII (as viceroy) 1st Regency Council |
| Succeeded by | Cristóvão de Moura |
| Sumiller de Corps | |
| In office 1599–1618 | |
| Monarch | Philip III |
| Preceded by | Cristóvão de Moura |
| Succeeded by | Cristobál Gómez de Sandoval |
| Caballerizo mayor | |
| In office 1598–1618 | |
| Monarch | Philip III |
| Preceded by | Diego Fernández de Córdoba |
| Succeeded by | Cristobál Gómez de Sandoval |
| Viceroy of Valencia | |
| In office 1595–1597 | |
| Monarch | Philip II |
| Preceded by | Francisco de Moncada y Cardona |
| Succeeded by | Juan Alonso Pimentel de Herrera |
Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, 5th Marquess of Denia, 1st Count of Ampudia (1552/1553 – 17 May 1625), was a favourite of Philip III of Spain, the first of the validos ('most worthy') through whom the later Habsburg monarchs ruled. His administration was marked by costly wars, including the Twelve Years' Truce with the Dutch Republic, financial mismanagement, and the controversial expulsion of the Moriscos. Eventually, he was deposed in 1618 under a palace intrigue orchestrated by his son and political rival, Cristóbal de Sandoval. Lerma retired as a cardinal and was succeeded by the Count-Duke of Olivares but faced financial penalties and died in 1625 at Valladolid.