BRANCIFORTE, Miguel de la Grua Talamanca (bran-the-for'ray), marquis of, Spanish soldier, born in Sicily, Italy, about the middle of the 18th century. He belonged to the family of the Sicilian princes Carini, and served in the bodyguards of both Charles III. and Charles IV After he had reached the rank of lieutenant general in the Spanish army he was appointed governor of the Canary islands, and subsequently viceroy of New Spain, and as such was received in Mexico in July, 1794. He promoted public works and industries, but was not liked by the people on account of his intrigues against his predecessor, the count of Revillagigedo, a very popular man in Mexico. Azanza finally replaced him on 31 May, 1798. During the French invasion (1808-'14} he joined the Napoleonic party, and for this cause his property in Mexico was confiscated by order of the viceroy, Archbishop Lizana.