House of FitzJames

House of FitzJames
Armorial of FitzJames
Country	Kingdom of England, Kingdom of France, Kingdom of Spain
Founded	1670
Founder	James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick
Current head	Jacobo Hernando FitzJames-Stuart y Gomez, 12th Duke of Berwick
Titles	Numerous titles Duke of Berwick Duke of Fitz-James Baron of Bosworth Earl of Tinmouth Duke of Liria Duke of Jérica Count of Gelves Duke of Veragua Count of Lemos Duke of Olivares Duke of Alba Duke of Huescar Duke of Montoro Marquess of Elche Marquess of Villanueva del Rio Marquess of Carpio Viscount of FitzJames Count of Ayala Count of Casarrubios del Monte Count of Fuentedueña Count of Montijo Count of Carpio Duke of Peñaranda de Duero Marquess of Coria Marquess of La Algaba Marquess of Villanueva del Fresno Marquess of Ardales Marquess of Moya Marquess of Valderrábano Viscount of Jarafe Count of Urbasa Dukes of La Roca Marquess of Coquilla Marquess of La Laguna Marquess of Sofraga Marquess of Torrehermosa Marquess of Viana Marquess of Villaviciosa
Cadet branches	House of Alba

The House of FitzJames (or the House of FitzJames-Stuart) is a noble house of British origin founded by James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, who was the illegitimate son of James II & VII, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, a Catholic monarch from the House of Stuart. After the Revolution of 1688, the Duke of Berwick followed his father into exile and much of their history since then has been in Spain and France, with several members of the house serving in a military capacity.

The house has two main branches. The senior line, carrying the title Duke of Berwick and residing in Spain, is the result of the 1st Duke's marriage to Honora Burke, Countess of Lucan. This line has collected many titles throughout their history, including a few grandeeships of Spain, with some activity as ambassadors and military generals. The line associated with France, derived from the 1st Duke's second marriage to an Englishwoman, Anne Bulkeley, carried the title Duke of Fitz-James.

Perhaps the best known of the French line was Edward FitzJames, 5th Duke of FitzJames, an ultraroyalist who escaped to Italy after the French Revolution and returned around the time of the Bourbon Restoration. The last of this line was James FitzJames, 10th Duke of FitzJames, who died in 1967. The senior line in Spain continues on to the present day where the head is currently Jacobo FitzJames-Stuart y Gómez, 12th Duke of Berwick.

Sources

References

• Ruvigny, Melville H. (2000). The Nobilities of Europe. Adamant Media Corporation. ISBN 1-4021-8561-8.