Fernando Cagigal

Fernando de Cagigal de la Vega y Martínez Niño, 4th Marquis of Casa Cagigal (1756–1824) was a Spanish soldier, poet, and playwright.

Family and origins Fernando de Cagigal was born into a family with a long history of military service, so much so that they were well-known in military circles as "The Cagigals".

His father, Felipe Cagigal de la Vega y Niño, 3rd Marquis of Casa Cagigal, was Captain general of Extremadura and a member of the War Council and his mother was Teresa Mac Swing y Pacheco.

His two younger brothers, Juan Manuel de Cagigal (1757–1823) and José de Cagigal (1757–1837), both had notable military careers.

Career

Cagigal was commissioned as a captain, an entry rank reserved for members of families with a proven aristocratic or military lineage, in the "Spain" Cavalry Regiment, eventually becoming its commanding officer before being transferred to the Queen's Regiment and promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1782. Cagigal was arrested and sent for trial to Cádiz, where he was eventually acquitted in 1810, thanks, in part, to the personal intervention of General Francisco Javier Castaños.