Viscounty of Altamira

The Viscounts of Altamira were a family of the Spanish nobility.

Genealogy

1st Generation [1] • D. Juan de Bivero*, married Dª María de Soto. Their children were:

2nd Generation

D. Pedro de Bivero.Mayor Pérez de Vivero. married Gonzalo Pérez de Vaamonde. They had three sons.

D. Alonso Pérez de Viveiro. Born in the parish of San Esteban de Valle (currently part of the Council of O Vicedo - Lugo).

Married Dª Inés de Guzmán. Widow of the Count of Trastamara and daughter of Gil Gómez Davila, Lord of Cespedosa y de Puente del Congosto, and of Dª Aldonza de Guzmán.

Alonso's father died when he was very young and his mother raised him as an hidalgo. At the age of 15 he marched to Castilla and became a page for D. Álvaro de Luna, Constable of Castile, Grand Master of the military order of Santiago, and favorite of King John II of Castile. Later in life he assumed the roles of Secretary and Contador Mayor of the King

He was Lord of Villajuán y Fuensaldaña. He created in Valladolid the Palacio de los Vivero - where the Royal Foreign Ministry and the Territorial Audience where located. He also created the Castle of Fuensaldaña, near by Valladolid, where his crest lies; On a golden background, 3 plants of ivy in their natural colour, each with 7 leaves, mounted over rocks out at sea, and blue and white waves.

From him descended the Viscounts of Altamira, the Counts of Fuensaldaña, the Counts of Grajal, the Marquises of Alcañices and other illustrious families that bear the name (V)Bivero.

Alonso and Inés founded the "mayorazgo" (entailed estate) 2 December 1452. They had three children:

3rd Generation

1. Gonzalo de Vivero. He was Chaplin of St. Mary's Cathedral in Lugo, and was Prelado alongside don García Martínez Vaamonde, he was later elevated to Bishop of Salamanca in 1446. He died on 29 January 1480.

2. Vasco Pérez de Vivero. Captain for King D. Fernando y Dª. Isabel. In 1497 he was Mayor of the Fortress of A Coruña.

3. D. Juan de Bivero. First born. 1st Viscount of Altamira. The title was bestowed upon him in 1467 by the King Henry IV of Castile.

He married 14 April 1456 to Dª. María de Acuña. Daughter of D. Pedro de Acuña, 1st Count of Buendía, and Ines Herrera. Nephew of the Archbishop of Toledo, D. Alonso Carrillo.

He held the seat of the Biveros, until, on 15 June 1465, King Henry IV stripped him of his title, by Royal Decree signed in Zamora. Henry IV then gave the seat of the Biveros to Perdo Pardo de Cela on 27 June. He was Contador of Henry IV, Commandor General, Lord of Cabezón, in Valladolid. They had the following children;

4. D. Gil González de Vivero y Davila5. D. Lope6. D. Francisco7. D. Alonso de Vivero8. Dª Aldonza de Vivero. Married to D. Gabriel Manrique. First Count of Osorno9. Dª María de Vivero y Soto. Casó con D. Luis de Tobar. Señor de Berlanga y Astudillo10. Dª Isabel de Vivero

11. Dª Inés de Vivero. Married to D. Diego Pérez de Osorio, Lord of Villacís and Cervantes.After the death of his father the king, he was given the seat of the Biveros. The Biveros were not in agreement with this and they took up arms and fought within the walls of the estate, killing one son of Dª. Inés in the battle.

From this marriage come the Counts of Villanueva de Cañedo.

This battle forced the King to revoke the Decree of Zamora, signed in 1465 and attributed the seat of the Biveros back to its original Lords.

12. Dª Mariana13. Dª Catalina de Vivero

4th Generation

Alonso Pérez de Bivero (1458 - 1509). Second Viscount of Altamira. Promoter of the construction of the Castle of Fuensaldaña (Valladolid).

Was married in first instance to Elvira Bazán.In second instance, María Manrique de Benavides. They had the following children;Juana de Acuña. Married to Martín de Acuña. Son of Juan de Acuña, III Count of Valencia, Gijón y Pravia y Teresa Enríquez. Lord of Matadion. They had three children.

5th Generation

1. Juan Pérez de Bivero. 3rd Viscount of Altamira.2. Antonio de Acuña. Lord of Matadión. With succession.3. Fernando de Acuña. Lord of Villafañe. With succession.4. Antonia de Acuña. Married to Fernando Niño de Castro. Marques of Valladolid.5. Ines de Acuña.

6th Generation

Alonso Pérez de Bivero. IV Viscount of Altamira.Married to María de Mercado. From Madrigal de las Altas Torres (Ávila). Daughter of Juan de Mercado, from Madrigal, Knight of the Order of Santiago.They were succeeded by:

7th Generation

Juan de Bivero y Mercado. V Visconde of Altamira. The King Felipe II bestowed upon him the title of Count of Fuensaldaña.Married to Magdalena de Borja. Lady of the House of Loyola. Nephew of San Francisco of Borja. They had no children.

Their successors were: D. Juan Esteban Pérez de Bivero Garcia de Quevedo, of the branch of D. Gil González de Bivero Y Davila (Counts of Davila). VI Viscount of Altamira. In the year 1583 he was the 2nd count of Count of Fuensaldaña. His titles were then inherited by D. Alonso Pérez de Bivero Garcia de Quevedo, that continues the line today.

References

* Juan Donapétry Iribarnégaray "Historia de Vivero y su Concejo". (Summary of chapters III and XIV)

Notes

[1] The spelling of the surname varied upon generation, between 'Vivero', 'Viveiro' and 'Bivero' according to individual taste and preference.This dispairity was later formalised by decree, late in the reign of King Felipe II. The 'Bivero' spelling is generally considered to be the ancient spelling.