Álvarez was born at
Villafranca del Bierzo as the son of
Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, Marquess of Villafranca, who was
Viceroy of Naples between 1532 and 1553. His mother was Juana Pimentel, Marchioness of Villafranca del Bierzo. The
Duke of Alba,
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, was his first cousin. Among his many siblings was
Eleonora of Toledo, wife of
Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany. He started his military career under the command of
Andrea Doria in the galleys of Naples, as commander of two ships. In 1535, already the commander of six galleys, he distinguished himself in the battles of
La Goletta,
Tunis,
Algiers, Sfax, Calibria y Mebredia. After this he was named Capitain General of the Galleys of Naples. He was Captain General of the expedition to Greece, and
Capitán General del Mar, a title he received in 1544 after having fought
Hayreddin Barbarossa. He was
Viceroy of Catalonia between 1558 and 1564. He then became Colonel General of the Infantry of the
Kingdom of Naples and finally, after his
conquest of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera in 1564,
Viceroy of Sicily. As Viceroy of Sicily he accomplished his greatest achievement, the relief of the
Siege of Malta (1565). For this he received from King
Philip II of Spain the titles
Duke of Fernandina and Prince of Montalbán on 24 December 1569. He died at
Naples in 1577. == Marriage and issue ==