Carlo d'Aragona Tagliavia

Early life

Carlo was born in Castelvetrano, Sicily, in 1530. He was the son of a Sicilian peer, Giovanni Tagliavia, Count of Castelvetrano, and a Spanish mother, Beatriz de Aragón y Cruillas, only daughter of Carlos de Aragon, Marquess of Avola. His uncle was Cardinal Pietro Tagliavia d'Aragonia. His family descended from an illegitimate son of King Peter III of Aragon.

Career

He became Duke of Terranova (Duca di Terranova) (in the Italian, not Spanish line) on 17 August 1561. On 24 April 1564, the County of Castelvetrano was raised to the Principality of Castelvetrano and Carlo became its 1st reigning prince.

Tagliavia twice served as the Viceroy of Sicily; from 1556 to 1568 and, again, from 1571 to 1577. He later served as Viceroy of Catalonia from 1581 to 1582 and as the governor of the Duchy of Milan from 1583 to 1592.

He was a Knight of the Order of Aviz and was made Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1585.

Personal life

He married Margherita Ventimiglia, the daughter of Simone Ventimiglia, 5th Marquess of Geraci, and Elisabetta Moncada. Together, they were the parents of:

Giovanni Tagliavia d'Aragona, Marquess of Avola (c. 1549–1599); he married Maria de Marini, Baroness of Gibillini.

Simeone Tagliavia d'Aragona (1550–1604), who became a Cardinal.

Isabella Tagliavia d’Aragona (c. 1555–1580), who married Ercole Branciforte, 1st Duke of San Giovanni.

Giulia Tagliavia d'Aragona (d. 1621), who married Fabrizio Carafa, 1st Prince of Roccella.

Anna Tagliavia d'Aragona (d. 1581), who married Giovanni Ventimiglia, 8th Marquess of Geraci, 1st Prince of Castelbuono.

Ottavio d'Aragona (1565–1623), a naval commander who served under Viceroy of Naples and Sicily Pedro Téllez-Girón, Duke of Osuna for the Hispanic Monarchy.

Carlo died in Madrid on 25 September 1599. He was succeeded as 2nd Duke of Terranova and 2nd Prince of Castelvetrano, by his grandson Carlos Tagliavia d'Aragona (1585–1605).