Carlos de Borja y Centellas

Carlos de Borja Centellas y Ponce de León (29 April 1663 – 8 August 1733) was a Spanish cardinal. He served as Patriarch of the West Indies and as the first Vicar-General of the Spanish armies.

Life He was a younger son of Francisco Carlos de Borja y Centellas, 9th Duke of Gandía, and his wife María Ponce de León. Destined for career as an ecclesiastic from a young age, he studied at the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso of the University of Alcalá between 1669 and 1670. There he obtained a doctorate in both canon and civil law.

In his early career, he was named a canon of Toledo and was archdeacon of Madrid. He was also made vice-almoner major to Carlos II, and acquired several benefices. He accompanied the King to Barcelona and Italy in 1701, and was appointed the first Vicar-General of the Spanish armies in 1702. He was installed as cardinal-priest of Santa Pudenziana in 1721. He participated in the papal conclave of 1724 which elected Pope Benedict XIII.

He had a brother, Francisco, who was also a cardinal.