Álvaro de Luna (Castile)
Álvaro de Luna (* between 1388 and 1390 in Cañete ; † June 2, 1453 in Valladolid ) was the favorite of John II and constable of Castile and from 1445 to 1453 Grand Master of the Order of Santiago .
Life
Álvaro de Luna was born in Cañete between 1388 and 1390 as the illegitimate son of Álvaro Martínez de Luna, who was mayor there. When Alvaro was seven years old, his father died. In 1410 he was sent to live with his uncle Pedro de Luna, the Archbishop of Toledo .
In 1408 (or 1410) Álvaro became the page of the young King John II of Castile and soon secured a dominant influence over him. However, as long as his uncle Ferdinand ruled, he was only allowed to perform services. However, when he was elected King of Aragón as Ferdinand I in 1412 and the reign was in the hands of the mother of King Catherine of Lancaster , his influence and power grew enormously.
During a tournament celebrating the king's coming of age in 1418, Álvaro suffered a serious head injury from a lance stab, from which, contrary to expectations, he quickly recovered.
During the throne disputes between the Infants of Aragón on the one hand and the Castilian crown on the other hand in 1420, John II was captured by the Infante Heinrich. With the help of Álvaro de Luna he managed to escape, but it wasn't until 1430 that he succeeded more and more in asserting himself against Ferdinand's sons with the help of Álvaro de Luna. A renewed victory of Álvaros in 1445 seemed to mean the final victory of Castile over Aragon, but the controversy over the throne and uprisings between the various aristocratic parties continued.
When King John II married a second time in 1447, his new wife Isabella of Portugal , who later became the mother of Isabella I of Castile , took power and moved the weak-willed king to abandon Álvaro. He was arrested and, after a short trial , executed on June 2, 1453 . The then Bishop of Ávila , Alonso de Fonseca I , played a key role in this action .
Marriages and offspring
Álvaro de Luna was married twice:
- Elvira de Portocarrero, 1420
- Juana Pimentel, 1430
- María de Luna y Pimentel (1432–1502)
- Juan de Luna y Pimentel (around 1435 – around 1456)
He also had several illegitimate children.
meaning
Álvaro is described as a perfect master of etiquette , he mastered the art of riding, the lance and writing poetry. His character is portrayed very differently, but his relationship with the king appears to have been loyal. Under his rule, the nobility were pushed back and the royal power strengthened.
literature
- José Serrano Belinchón: El condestable: de la vida, prisión y muerte de don Álvaro de Luna. AACHE Ediciones, Guadalajara 2000, ISBN 978-8495179357 .
Web links
- Alvaro de Luna - biography (spanish)
- Alvaro de Luna - biography (spanish)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Luna, Álvaro de |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Castilian ruler |
| DATE OF BIRTH | between 1388 and 1390 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Cañete |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 2, 1453 |
| Place of death | Valladolid |