Carlos José de Witte y Pau

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Witte and the second or maternal family name is Pau.

Carlos José de Witte y Pau, 4th Marquis of Wanmarck, Kingdom of Naples (17 June 1754 – 8 March 1810), was a Spanish army officer.[1]

Early life

He was the son of Carlos Santiago Gerardo de Witte y Fervaque (1712–1782), a native of Bruges in Flanders, and María Antonia Margarita de Pau y Wanmarck (1725-1810), who was born in Bilbao to a Flemish family.[1]

Career

Having enlisted as a cadet in the Walloon Guards in 1771, De Witte rose through the ranks to become a captain in 1794, seeing action in the Spanish–Algerian War from 1775 to 1785 and at the Great Siege of Gibraltar from 1779 to 1783.[1]

In 1794, he was promoted to infantry brigadier and the following year, field marshal. In 1797, he was appointed political and military governor of Badajoz, remaining in that post for almost ten years.[1]

Having been appointed political and military governor of Barcelona in December 1807, Witte took up office in January 1808.

Peninsular War

Main article: Peninsular War

Following the French invasion (February), Witte abandoned Barcelona and joined Milans del Bosch's army.[1] That October, Witte was commander of Cavalry for the Spanish Army of the Right, under Juan Miguel de Vives.[2] In February 1809, he was given command of Extremadura.[1]

Personal life

In 1800 in Madrid, Witte married María Juana Rodríguez de Alburquerque y Díaz Pardo (1759-1810),[1] the daughter of Antonio Rodríguez de Alburquerque and Josefa Antonia de Pardo. Together, they were the parents of five children:

  • Juan de Witte y Rodríguez de Alburquerque (1782–1834)[1]
  • María Ángeles de Witte y Rodríguez de Alburquerque (1783–1805)[1]
  • María Antonia de Witte y Rodríguez de Alburquerque (1785–1837), who married Manuel Lorenzo de Acuña, 9th Marquis of Gramedo, 10th Marquis of Bedmar, and 8th Marquis of Casa Fuerte.[3]
  • María Dolores de Witte y Rodríguez de Alburquerque (b. 1789)[1]
  • Carlos María de Witte y Rodríguez de Alburquerque (b. 1792).[1]

Witte died in Badajoz on 8 March 1810.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l (in Spanish). Ozanam, Didier. "Carlos José de Witte y Pau". Historia Hispánica. Real Academia de la Historia. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  2. ^ Nafziger, George. Spanish Army of the Right: 25 October l808, p. 1. The Napoleon Series. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  3. ^ Tous, Antònia Morey (1999). Noblesa i desvinculació a Mallorca als segles XVIII i XIX: les repercussions de la legislació desvinculadora sobre els patrimonis nobiliaris (in Catalan). Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat. p. 389. ISBN 978-84-8415-069-5. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
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