Joan Llorenç (in Valencian; es, Juan Llorens) (1458–1520) was the leader of a ''

germania Germania ( ; ), also called Magna Germania (English: ''Great Germania''), Germania Libera (English: ''Free Germania''), or Germanic Barbaricum to distinguish it from the Roman province of the same name, was a large historical region in north- ...

'' (

guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...

, literally "brotherhood") of

Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Valencia and the Municipalities of Spain, third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is ...

. He became one of the most influential leaders in what would later be known as the

Revolt of the Brotherhoods The Revolt of the Brotherhoods ( ca, Revolta de les Germanies, es, Rebelión de las Germanías) was a revolt by artisan guilds ('' Germanies'') against the government of King Charles V in the Kingdom of Valencia, part of the Crown of Aragon. ...

, though during his leadership warfare had not yet broken out. Llorenç sought to expand the role the guilds played in the city and to counterbalance noble power. The nobility were widely disliked as they had often abused their power and acted above the law, with the government doing little against them. After a series of plagues, floods, and economic disasters in Valencia, the royal government was practically nonfunctional. Llorenç and the Council of Thirteen, the board consisting of the heads of the thirteen ''Germanies'', practically ran the city while the official government was absent or powerless. One of the compromises that Llorenç tried to broker was the addition of two representatives to the governing council of Valencia elected by the people. The two candidates affiliated with the ''Germanies'' won, while all candidates supported by the nobles lost. However, the recently appointed Viceroy Diego Hurtado de Mendoza sided with the nobility and refused to admit the ''Germanies'' representatives. This, and the death of the popular Guillén Castleví (known under the nickname "Sorolla") caused riots in the city that ended the royal administration. Llorenç did not live long enough to guide the continuing revolt, as he died shortly after the riots, likely due to a heart attack.Bonilla, p. 202.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Llorens, Joan People of the Revolt of the Brotherhoods 1458 births 1520 deaths