The Literary Battalion was first formed in 1663, in the face of the Portuguese attacks on the town of Monterrey, after the revolt of Portugal against Spain in 1640.
He was the son of Gaspar de Zúñiga, 5th Count of Monterrey, (Monterrei, Ourense, Spain, 1560–1606), founder of the City of Monterrey, Viceroy of Mexico, 1595–1603, Viceroy of Peru, 1604–1606) and Inés de Velasco y Aragón, daughter of Iñigo Fernández de Velasco, 4th Duke of Frías.