Diego de Espinosa y de Arévalo (September 1502 – 5 September 1572) was a Spanish churchman.

Life

Born at Martín Muñoz de las Posadas (modern

province of Segovia Segovia () is a province of central/northern Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is bordered by the province of Burgos in the north, Soria in the northeast, Guadalajara in the east, Madrid in the south, ...

), he was educated in civil law, canon law and theology at the

University of Salamanca The University of Salamanca ( es, Universidad de Salamanca) is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the city of Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX. It is th ...

. He was Councillor of the Royal Council of Castile, 1562, and President of the Royal Council of Castile, 1565. He was ordained a priest in 1567, and created Cardinal, by

Pope Pius V Pope Pius V ( it, Pio V; 17 January 1504 – 1 May 1572), born Antonio Ghislieri (from 1518 called Michele Ghislieri, O.P.), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1566 to his death in May 1572. He is v ...

, after March 1568. He was

Bishop of Sigüenza A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

(1568–1572), and

Inquisitor General Grand Inquisitor ( la, Inquisitor Generalis, literally ''Inquisitor General'' or ''General Inquisitor'') was the lead official of the Inquisition. The title usually refers to the chief inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition, even after the reunif ...

(December 1566 – 1572). He was to be honoured with a title of Marquis and the building of a palace at the expense of King

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...

, but he only accepted the building in his village of a palace bearing the Crown Royal Arms as paid by public money. This still exists, and is presently used by the Town Hall and secondary schools. His directness was not appreciated by many, but it is said that the rigid King Philip II, on learning of his death in 1572, commented that he had lost his best-ever Minister. de Espinosa was prematurely pronounced dead. As the embalmer was opening his chest cavity to prepare his body for embalming, he revived and pushed the knife away. He died from the incision.

Memorial

A magnificent praying sculpture of him, by

Leone Leoni :''For the early 17th-century composer, see Leone Leoni (composer)''. Leone Leoni (ca. 1509 – 22 July 1590) was an Italian sculptor of international outlook who travelled in Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Leoni is re ...

and his son

Pompeo Leoni :''For the early 17th-century composer, see Leone Leoni (composer)''. Leone Leoni (ca. 1509 – 22 July 1590) was an Italian sculptor of international outlook who travelled in Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Leoni is re ...

, can be found in the village church.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Espinosa y Arevalo, Diego de 1513 births 1572 deaths 16th-century Spanish cardinals Cardinals created by Pope Pius V Bishops of Sigüenza People from the Province of Segovia Grand Inquisitors of Spain University of Salamanca alumni