Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, 1st Duke of Feria

Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, 1st Duke of Feria (1520?–1571) was a Spanish nobleman and diplomat, and close advisor of Philip II.

Probably born in Zafra, Extremadura, he was the second son of Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, 3rd Count of Feria, and his wife, Catalina Fernandez de Córdoba. He became 5th Count of Feria upon the death of his elder brother Pedro in 1551, and in 1554 travelled with Philip of Spain to England for the king's marriage to Queen Mary I. He was regarded as only second to Ruy Gómez in the king's confidence. After the accession of Elizabeth I he served as Philip's ambassador until he was succeeded by Bishop Alvarez de Quadra in May 1559.

On 29 December 1558 Feria married Mary I's former maid-of-honour, Jane Dormer, a match resisted by both their families. Feria and his wife maintained a strong interest in the protection of English Catholic exiles, and the former ambassador also supported the Ridolfi Plot of 1571. In 1567 Philip II created the count 1st Duke of Feria. He was buried in Zafra, in the Convent of Santa Clara.

References

Loades, David (2008): "Suárez de Figueroa, Gómez, first duke of Feria in the Spanish nobility (1520?–1571)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. online edn. Oct 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2010. (subscription required)