Luis Méndez de Haro y Guzmán

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Luis Méndez de Haro y Guzmán , engraving from the mid-17th century

Luis Méndez de Haro y Guzmán , Marqués of Carpio, Count (Conde Duque) of Olivares, (born February 17, 1598 in Valladolid , † November 26, 1661 in Madrid ) was Prime Minister and advisor to King Philip IV of Spain .

Luis de Haro right behind Philip IV at his meeting with Louis XIV, behind whom is symmetrical to Haro Mazarin, at the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659

His father was Diego Méndez de Haro y Sotomayor, Marqués of Carpio, his mother Francisca de Guzmán, sister of the Count of Olivares , who was Philip IV's minister until 1643. Thanks to the protection of his uncle, he made a career at court and succeeded him as prime minister, but did not achieve his influence.

The signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 fell into his aegis. He was the chief negotiator in the Pyrenees Peace of 1659 with France, which was unfavorable for Spain and ended a long war. He had previously tried in vain to forge an alliance with Oliver Cromwell against France. His main goal was to win forces for the struggle in interior Spain through external peace agreements (uprisings in Catalonia, regaining Portugal). A success of his tenure was the suppression of the uprising in Catalonia and the reconquest of Barcelona in 1652 by Juan José de Austria , with Portugal he had less success. As a general, he himself commanded the Spanish troops in the battle of Elvas against Portugal on January 14, 1659, which ended in a Spanish defeat.

He was the father of the art collector, diplomat and viceroy of Naples Gaspar de Haro y Guzmán .

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personal data
SURNAME Haro y Guzmán, Luis Méndez de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Spanish minister
DATE OF BIRTH February 17, 1598
PLACE OF BIRTH Valladolid
DATE OF DEATH November 26, 1661
Place of death Madrid