María de Toledo or María Álvarez de Toledo or María Álvarez de Toledo y Rojas (1490 – 11 May 1549) was a Spanish noblewoman and the first woman in the Americas with the title of Vicereine and regent of the Spanish Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, present day Dominican Republic. She was the most powerful and highest-ranking noble in America in the 16th century and a defender of the liberties of the indigenous people in the Hispaniola.
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María de Toledo y Rojas in the context of Diego Columbus
Diego Columbus (Portuguese: Diogo Colombo; Spanish: Diego Colón; Italian: Diego Colombo; 1479/1480 – February 23, 1526) was a navigator and explorer under the kings of Castile and Aragón. He served as the 2nd admiral of the Indies, 2nd viceroy of the Indies and 4th governor of the Indies as a vassal to the kings of Castile and Aragón. He was the eldest son of Christopher Columbus and his wife Filipa Moniz Perestrelo.
He was born in Portugal, either in Porto Santo in 1479 or 1480, or in Lisbon in 1474. He spent most of his adult life trying to regain the titles and privileges granted to his father for his explorations and then denied in 1500. He was greatly aided in this goal by his marriage to María de Toledo y Rojas, niece of the 2nd Duke of Alba, who was the cousin of King Ferdinand.
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