Juan Everardo Nithard
Encyclopedia
Juan Everardo Nithard (Fankelstein (Upper Austria
), December 8, 1607 – Rome
, February 1, 1681) was an Austrian priest of the Society of Jesus
, confessor of Mariana of Austria
and valido of Spain.
Born in a Catholic family in Tirol
, he entered at the age of 21 the Society of Jesus
and studied at the University of Graz
. Emperor
Ferdinand III
made him preceptor
of his children Leopold
and Mariana
.
When Archduchess Mariana married her maternal uncle King Philip IV of Spain
in 1649, he accompanied her as her confessor to the Spanish Court. When the King died, Queen Mariana became regent of their infant son Charles
.
She made Nithard Grand Inquisitor
in 1666, which gave him access to the Regency Board, from where he became the most important person of the Spanish Court. From then on he was the de facto prime minister or valido of Spain.
When he signed the disadvantageous Treaty of Lisbon (1668) with Portugal and Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)
with France, the members of the Councils and in particular Don Juan José de Austria started plotting to overthrow him. In 1669 he was dismissed by a military
pronunciamiento
led by Juan José de Austria.
After his dismissal, Nithard was named ambassador in Rome, Bishop of Agrigento, and later Archbishop of Edesa. In 1672 Pope Clement X
made him a cardinal.
He wrote his Memorias, and after his death in 1681, he was buried in the Church of the Gesu
in Rome.
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
), December 8, 1607 – Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, February 1, 1681) was an Austrian priest of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, confessor of Mariana of Austria
Mariana of Austria
Mariana of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Philip IV, who was also her maternal uncle...
and valido of Spain.
Born in a Catholic family in Tirol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
, he entered at the age of 21 the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
and studied at the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
. Emperor
Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
made him preceptor
Preceptor
A preceptor is a teacher responsible to uphold a certain law or tradition, a precept.-Christian military orders:A preceptor was historically in charge of a preceptory, the headquarters of certain orders of monastic Knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar, within a given...
of his children Leopold
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
and Mariana
Mariana of Austria
Mariana of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Philip IV, who was also her maternal uncle...
.
When Archduchess Mariana married her maternal uncle King Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
in 1649, he accompanied her as her confessor to the Spanish Court. When the King died, Queen Mariana became regent of their infant son Charles
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
.
She made Nithard Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor
Grand Inquisitor is the lead official of an Inquisition. The most famous Inquisitor General is the Spanish Dominican Tomás de Torquemada, who spearheaded the Spanish Inquisition.-List of Spanish Grand Inquisitors:-Castile:-Aragon:...
in 1666, which gave him access to the Regency Board, from where he became the most important person of the Spanish Court. From then on he was the de facto prime minister or valido of Spain.
When he signed the disadvantageous Treaty of Lisbon (1668) with Portugal and Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle or Treaty of Aachen was signed on May 2, 1668 in Aachen. It ended the war of Devolution between France and Spain. It was mediated by the Triple Alliance of England, the Dutch Republic and Sweden at the first Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle...
with France, the members of the Councils and in particular Don Juan José de Austria started plotting to overthrow him. In 1669 he was dismissed by a military
pronunciamiento
Pronunciamiento
A pronunciamiento is a form of military rebellion or coup d'état peculiar to Spain and the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century...
led by Juan José de Austria.
After his dismissal, Nithard was named ambassador in Rome, Bishop of Agrigento, and later Archbishop of Edesa. In 1672 Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X , born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was Pope from 29 April 1670 to 22 July 1676.-Early life:Emilio Altieri was born in Rome, the son of Lorenzo Altieri and Victoria Delphini, a Venetian lady...
made him a cardinal.
He wrote his Memorias, and after his death in 1681, he was buried in the Church of the Gesu
Church of the Gesu
The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. Officially named , its facade is "the first truly baroque façade", introducing the baroque style into architecture ,. The church served as model for innumerable Jesuit...
in Rome.