Íñigo Melchor de Velasco, 7th Duke of Frías
Íñigo Melchor Fernández de Velasco, 7th Duke of Frías, GE, KOS, was a Spanish nobleman and Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands.Biography
His father was Bernardino Fernández de Velasco, 6th Duke of Frías and his mother Isabel Maria de Guzmán. King John IV of Portugal was his cousin. He married Maria Teresa de Benavídes Dávila y Corella and had one daughter, María Remigia, VII Marquesa de Berlanga.
He was a very influential political figure during the reign of Carlos II of Spain. He inherited the title of Constable of Castile from his father, was member of the State council and the War Council, Governor of Galicia and became Governor of the Spanish Netherlands between 1668 and 1670. In 1676 he was appointed as Mayordomo mayor to the King, chief of his Household.
His painting by Murillo from 1659 can be seen in the Louvre. After his death in 1696, the title of Duke of Frías went to his nephew José Fernández de Velasco, 8th Duke of Frías.Additional information
