Cardinal Alfonso de la Cueva, marqués de Bedmar. (Museo del Prado).
Alfonso de la Cueva-Benavides y Mendoza-Carrillo, marqués de Bedmar (first name also spelled Alonso, often used was the title Bedmar) (25 July 1574 – 10 August 1655[1]) was a Spanish diplomat, bishop and Roman Catholic cardinal. He was born in Bedmar, in what is now the province of Jaén. Alfonso was the son of Luis de la Cueva-Benavides, 2nd señor of Bedmar, and Elvira Carrillo de Mendoza y Cárdenas.
Early years
Alfonso was born at Bedmar, now Bedmar y Garciez, province of Jaen, Spain. At an early age, he pursued a military career at the side of his father, who was the captain general of the Canary Islands. After 1590, he took his father's place in his absence, and a year later was named captain of the Harquebusiers. After the death of his father in 1599, he became the 3rd lord of his house and became a commander of a Cavalry company.
On 23 December 1606[2]KingPhilip III of Spain made him the Spanish ambassador to the Republic of Venice. This was an important position due to the amount of information concerning European affairs which passed through the hands of the Spanish representative. On 16 April 1610 King Philip III awarded him the title of Knight of the Order of Alcántara. In 1614, aged around 42, he was made Marqués de Bedmar, which he would resign when promoted to the cardinalate.