Born in Madrid in 1919, Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz, son of the Dukes of Sotomayor, married the Duchess of Alba in 1947. During their twenty-five-year marriage, until his premature death at 52, Martínez de Irujo played a fundamental role as administrator and manager of the immense heritage of the House of Alba, laying the groundwork for its future projection.
“"There has been a surprising oversight of his figure."
Historian José Miguel Hernández Barral, who extensively researched the archives of the Casa de Alba Foundation, emphasizes the importance of Luis Martínez de Irujo in the reconstruction and updating of the family legacy. His work was essential in relieving his father-in-law, Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, and providing unconditional support to his wife, allowing her overwhelming personality to shine.
The marriage was characterized by a clear division of responsibilities: Luis took charge of patrimonial management, cultural development, and high-level relations. His work included the rehabilitation of the Palacio de Liria, devastated after the war, as well as the conservation of the Palacio de las Dueñas in Seville and the renovation of the Palacio de Monterrey in Salamanca. He also modernized the administration of the extensive lands of the House of Alba, seeking their direct economic development.
The couple also played a crucial role in Spain's international projection during a time of limited global impact. Their presence at events such as the Christian Dior fashion show in 1959 at the Palacio de Liria, featuring a young Yves Saint Laurent, or the 1966 BBC program about the Duchess, demonstrated their ability to connect with traditional values while fitting into a transforming society. Luis Martínez de Irujo passed away on September 6, 1972, in Houston, Texas, due to leukemia.
