Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens
Encyclopedia
Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga also known as Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens
(1528 — 5 March 1576) was a Spanish politician and diplomat.
. He, and his brother Juan de Zúñiga y Requesens
(Viceroy of Naples in 1579-1582), were the siblings of Juan de Zúñiga, a tutor
of king Philip II
, a very young orphan, and Estefanía de Requesens. He married a lady, Gerónima Esterlich y Gralla, the daughter of Francisco Gralla, "Maestre Racional", a sort of Finances Head Controller, in Catalonia.
His early career was that of a government official and diplomat
. In 1563 he gained the king's confidence as his representative at Rome. In 1568 he was appointed lieutenant-general to John of Austria during the suppression of the Morisco revolt
in the Alpujarras
, and he also accompanied John during the Lepanto
campaign, his function being to watch and control his nominal commander-in-chief, whose excitable temperament was distrusted by the king.
In 1572 Philip named him Governor of the Duchy of Milan, a post usually given to a great noble. Requesens was only a gentleman, though by the kings favour he was grand commander of the military order of Santiago
in Castile
. He was credited with having shown moderation at Milan, but he came into sharp collision with the archbishop, Saint Charles Borromeo, who took up the cause of his flock.
In 1573 he was called by Philip II to succeed the Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba as governor of the Spanish Netherlands, then in revolt against the Spaniards.
He was rather moderate in comparison to Alba, requesting Philip to grant a general amnesty to all, with the exception of persistent heretic
s, and to permit the emigration of those who would not comply.
The king wished to pursue a more conciliatory policy, without, however, yielding any one of the points in dispute between himself and the revolting Dutch. his situation was aggravated by the empty treasury. Requesens came to Brussels on 17 November 1573, forced to launch a military campaign. In February 1574 the rebels had conquered the port of Middelburg
, but Requesens's army obtained a victory against the troops of Louis of Nassau
at the Battle of Mookerheyde
, during which William of Orange
's two brothers died. At this point, however, the money for his troops finished, and Requesens had to find an agreement with William of Orange, with the mediation of emperor Maximilian II
. The negotiations were held in Breda
. Requesens declared to be ready to remove his troops from Flanders
, but in exchange Catholicism was to be the only religion accepted. However, by now Protestantism
had gained too deep roots in the Netherlands, and the proposal was rebuffed by the Dutch. Requesens restarted the fight and his troops occupied much of Zeeland
, but when Philip II stopped payment to the Flemish troops, they mutinied and military operations were halted for one year.
Requenses died suddenly at Brussels
in 1576, to be replaced in the now totally chaotic Netherlands by John of Austria. His body was brought to Barcelona and buried in his family palace.
Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens
Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga also known as Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens was a Spanish politician and diplomat.-Biography:Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga was born at Molins de Rei...
(1528 — 5 March 1576) was a Spanish politician and diplomat.
Biography
Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga was born at Molins de ReiMolins de Rei
Molins de Rei is a municipality located at 18km from Barcelona's city centre, in the comarca of the Baix Llobregat in Catalonia, Spain.It is situated on the left bank of the Llobregat river, on the A-7 autopista from Valencia to La Jonquera and the main N-II road.Its location has made Molins de Rei...
. He, and his brother Juan de Zúñiga y Requesens
Juan de Zúñiga y Requesens
Juan de Zúñiga y Requesens, deceased 1586, was Viceroy of Naples, 1579–1582.He was the sixth child of Juan de Zúñiga Avellaneda y Velasco , very closely involved with king Charles I of Spain, a.k.a. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, married to Estefanía de Requesens y Rois de Liori, deceased 1549, and...
(Viceroy of Naples in 1579-1582), were the siblings of Juan de Zúñiga, a tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
of king Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, a very young orphan, and Estefanía de Requesens. He married a lady, Gerónima Esterlich y Gralla, the daughter of Francisco Gralla, "Maestre Racional", a sort of Finances Head Controller, in Catalonia.
His early career was that of a government official and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. In 1563 he gained the king's confidence as his representative at Rome. In 1568 he was appointed lieutenant-general to John of Austria during the suppression of the Morisco revolt
Morisco Revolt
The Morisco Revolt , also known as War of Las Alpujarras or Revolt of Las Alpujarras, in what is now Andalusia in southern Spain, was a rebellion against the Crown of Castile by the remaining Muslim converts to Christianity from the Kingdom of Granada.-The defeat of Muslim Spain:In the wake of the...
in the Alpujarras
Alpujarras
thumb|250px|A typical Alpujarran village, [[Busquístar]].La Alpujarra is a landlocked historical region in Southern Spain, which stretches south from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The western part of the region lies in the province of Granada...
, and he also accompanied John during the Lepanto
Battle of Lepanto (1571)
The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Catholic maritime states, decisively defeated the main fleet of the Ottoman Empire in five hours of fighting on the northern edge of the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece...
campaign, his function being to watch and control his nominal commander-in-chief, whose excitable temperament was distrusted by the king.
In 1572 Philip named him Governor of the Duchy of Milan, a post usually given to a great noble. Requesens was only a gentleman, though by the kings favour he was grand commander of the military order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
in Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
. He was credited with having shown moderation at Milan, but he came into sharp collision with the archbishop, Saint Charles Borromeo, who took up the cause of his flock.
In 1573 he was called by Philip II to succeed the Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba as governor of the Spanish Netherlands, then in revolt against the Spaniards.
He was rather moderate in comparison to Alba, requesting Philip to grant a general amnesty to all, with the exception of persistent heretic
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
s, and to permit the emigration of those who would not comply.
The king wished to pursue a more conciliatory policy, without, however, yielding any one of the points in dispute between himself and the revolting Dutch. his situation was aggravated by the empty treasury. Requesens came to Brussels on 17 November 1573, forced to launch a military campaign. In February 1574 the rebels had conquered the port of Middelburg
Middelburg
Middelburg is a municipality and a city in the south-western Netherlands and the capital of the province of Zeeland. It is situated in the Midden-Zeeland region. It has a population of about 48,000.- History of Middelburg :...
, but Requesens's army obtained a victory against the troops of Louis of Nassau
Louis of Nassau
Louis of Nassau was the third son of William, Count of Nassau and Juliana of Stolberg, and the younger brother of Prince William of Orange Nassau....
at the Battle of Mookerheyde
Battle of Mookerheyde
The Battle of Mookerheyde was a battle of the Eighty Years' War fought on 14 April 1574 near the village Mook and the river Meuse.In the winter months of on 1574, William the Silent's brothers, Louis and Henry of Nassau, raised a mercenary army in Germany of 6500 infantry and 3000 cavalry, and led...
, during which William of Orange
William of Orange
William of Orange usually refers to either:*William the Silent, William I, , Prince of Orange, founder of the House Orange-Nassau and the Netherlands as a state...
's two brothers died. At this point, however, the money for his troops finished, and Requesens had to find an agreement with William of Orange, with the mediation of emperor Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
. The negotiations were held in Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
. Requesens declared to be ready to remove his troops from Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, but in exchange Catholicism was to be the only religion accepted. However, by now Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
had gained too deep roots in the Netherlands, and the proposal was rebuffed by the Dutch. Requesens restarted the fight and his troops occupied much of Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, but when Philip II stopped payment to the Flemish troops, they mutinied and military operations were halted for one year.
Requenses died suddenly at Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1576, to be replaced in the now totally chaotic Netherlands by John of Austria. His body was brought to Barcelona and buried in his family palace.