He was the second son of Antonio Alonso Pimentel y Herrera de Velasco, 3rd Duke of Benavente and María Luisa Enríquez y Téllez-Girón, daughter of Fernando Enríquez de Velasco, 5th Admiral of Castile.
When his brother Louis, the 4th Duke of Benavente, died without issue in 1576, he succeeded him as 5th Duke [1].
During the time of Kings Philip II and Philip III, the Duke was an influential politician and military man. He had experience in the defence of the Spanish coasts and territories, and had supported unity with Portugal in 1580 with 8,000 infantry and 600 cavalry. He also participated in the Enterprise of England in 1588 and helped the Monarch financially [1].
In July 1610, Juan Alfonso Pimentel returned to Madrid. He remained in power as a State Councillor and, in 1618, as President of the Council of Italy. He was also Governor of the Kingdoms in the absence of Philip III, when he travelled to Portugal in 1619. After the death of the King, whom he assisted in his final hours, he became Queen Isabel's Chief steward in April 1621. However, he was not able to enjoy this new favour for long, as he died in Madrid on 8 November of that same year [1].
Marriage and children
In 1569 he married Catalina de Quiñones Vigil de Quiñones (died 1574), 6th Countess of Luna. They had 2 children :
