Luis de Aliaga Martínez
Encyclopedia
Luis de Aliaga Martínez (1560–1626) was the Grand Inquisitor
of Spain
from 1619 to 1621.
in 1560, the son of a nobleman who nevertheless ran a cloth business. After he was orphaned, he entered the Dominican
monastery in Zaragoza
in 1582. He was invited to teach theology
at the University of Zaragoza
, but instead, in 1605, he moved to the Dominican monastery in San Ildefonso
.
In 1606, Father Javierre, who had been his prior
at Zaragoza convinced him to come to Madrid
as his assistant. On December 6, 1608, he was named confessor
of Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma, favourite
of Philip III of Spain
. Lerma soon had Aliaga appointed confessor to the king (a position that had been previously been held by Diego Mardones, a member of the Franciscan
Order, who became Bishop of Córdoba). In this influential position, Aliaga was a leading voice calling for the Expulsion of the Moriscos
in 1609. The king offered to make him Archbishop of Toledo, but he refused.
Aliaga accepted the king's offer to name him Archimandrite
of Sicily
and a member of the Spanish Council of State
. Although he was close to Lerma, in 1618, he played a role in Lerma's downfall. The new favourite, Cristóbal de Sandoval, Duke of Uceda
had Aliaga named Grand Inquisitor
of Spain in 1619.
When Philip III died in 1624, the new king, Philip IV of Spain
removed Aliaga from office and ordered him exiled to Huete
and later to Aragon
.
He died in Zaragoza
in 1626.
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:...
of Spain
Habsburg Spain
Habsburg Spain refers to the history of Spain over the 16th and 17th centuries , when Spain was ruled by the major branch of the Habsburg dynasty...
from 1619 to 1621.
Biography
Luis de Aliaga Martínez was born in MosqueruelaMosqueruela
Mosqueruela is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 726 inhabitants....
in 1560, the son of a nobleman who nevertheless ran a cloth business. After he was orphaned, he entered the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
monastery in Zaragoza
Dominican Convent, Zaragoza
The Dominican Convent in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain is a former Dominican priory....
in 1582. He was invited to teach theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Zaragoza
University of Zaragoza
The University of Zaragoza or sometimes Saragossa University is a university located in Zaragoza, in the Aragon region of Spain...
, but instead, in 1605, he moved to the Dominican monastery in San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso, or La Granja, or La Granja de San Ildefonso, is a town and municipality in the province of Segovia, Spain, situated some 54 km northwest of Madrid.-History:...
.
In 1606, Father Javierre, who had been his prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
at Zaragoza convinced him to come to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
as his assistant. On December 6, 1608, he was named confessor
Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)
In the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the method by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving the sacrament of Baptism...
of Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma, favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
of Philip III of Spain
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
. Lerma soon had Aliaga appointed confessor to the king (a position that had been previously been held by Diego Mardones, a member of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Order, who became Bishop of Córdoba). In this influential position, Aliaga was a leading voice calling for the Expulsion of the Moriscos
Expulsion of the Moriscos
On April 9, 1609, King Philip III of Spain decreed the Expulsion of the Moriscos . The Moriscos were the descendants of the Muslim population that converted to Christianity under threat of exile from Ferdinand and Isabella in 1502...
in 1609. The king offered to make him Archbishop of Toledo, but he refused.
Aliaga accepted the king's offer to name him Archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
of Sicily
Kingdom of Sicily
The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
and a member of the Spanish Council of State
Spanish Council of State
The Spanish Council of State is the supreme consultative council of the Spanish Government. The current Council of State was established in 1980 according to the article 107 of the Constitution of 1978. The institution of the Council of State, understood as supreme consultative council of the...
. Although he was close to Lerma, in 1618, he played a role in Lerma's downfall. The new favourite, Cristóbal de Sandoval, Duke of Uceda
Cristóbal de Sandoval, Duke of Uceda
Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval-Rojas y de la Cerda, known as the duque de Uceda , but also titled second marquis of Cea, fifth marquis of Denia, and knight of the order of Santiago was the official minister of state, also known as the valido or valued one, for King Philip III of Spain...
had Aliaga named 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:...
of Spain in 1619.
When Philip III died in 1624, the new 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...
removed Aliaga from office and ordered him exiled to Huete
Huete
Huete is a municipality in Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 2,097....
and later to Aragon
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
.
He died in Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
in 1626.