Filippo II and she was in sharp contrast with the House Alvarez de Toledo. She was the inspirer of what was called the Ebolista Party. She is said to have plotted, after her husband's death, together with Don Antonio Perez, secretary of the King, to separate the Kingdom of Portugal from Spain and to put her son Diego de Silva y Mendoza on the throne. Discovered and imprisoned, she died confined in the tower of her Palace of Pastrana. Don Diego de Silva y Mendoza de la Cerda de Silva Cifuentes (1564-1630), Count of Salinas and Ribadeo, III Duke of Francavilla, I Marquess of Alenquér, Grand of the Kingdom of Portugal. He was a very important poet and a Spanish politician of the “Siglo de Oro”. Son of Don Ruy Gomez de Silva y Meneses and of Doña Ana de Mendoza de la Cerda y de Silva Cifuentes. His mother favoured him to his elder brother Rodrigo, II Duke of Pastrana, and managed to get him to inherit the Italian Dukedom of Francavilla from his grandfather Diego Hurtado. He married first with Doña Ana Sarmiento of Villadando de Ulloa in 1591, then with his sister-in-law Marina. His son was Don Rodrigo de Silva y Sarmiento Villadando de Ulloa, VIII Count of Salinas, then Duke of Híjar by his wife's decree (Rodrigo was the one who managed to rise Aragon against King Filippo IV of Habsburg when the King tried to become King of Aragon). He brought a long action against his brother Rodrigo for the acknowledgement of the Dukedom of Francavilla. Filippo II of Austria appointed him I Marquess of Alenquér which allowed him to become Grande of the Kingdom of Portugal. He had many missions from the kings of the house of Austria: Filippo II, Filippo III, Filippo IV. He was appointed general captain of Andalusia (1588) and, then, Viceroy of Portugal (1615-1622). As a poet, he is still considered one of the greats of the 17th century, like Luis de Gongora. His poetical writings have a great lyrical sensitiveness, really appreciated by the most important scholars and editors of the 20th and 21st centuries. Even nowadays it is possible to read his works which have lost very little of the past splendour. Don Rodrigo de Silva Mendoza de la Cerda Cifuentes y Sarmiento (Madrid 1600-Leon 1664) II Marquess of Alenquer, Count of Salinas and other titles. Duke of