Antonio Ponce de León, 11th Duke of Arcos

Antonio Ponce de León y Spínola, 11th Duke of Arcos, GE (3 October 1726 – 13 December 1780) was a Spanish peer and army officer.

[1] For a period of time, he was the sole largest employer in Western Europe, having over 3,000 servants working for him at one point.

[2][3] Born 3 October 1726 in Madrid, he was the youngest son of Joaquín Ponce de León y Lancaster, 7th Duke of Arcos and 10th Duke of Maqueda (amongst other titles) and Ana María Spínola y de la Cerda.

[4] After serving as an army officer in Italy, he returned to Spain in 1752 and was appointed supernumerary captain of the Spanish Royal Company of Corps Guards.

In 1772 he was appointed Captain General of the Royal Spanish Armies, despite continuing to command the Corps Guards.