Alonso de Aragón

Alonso de Aragón
Archbishop of Zaragoza; Archbishop of Valencia

Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zaragoza
Appointed 14 August 1478
Term ended 24 February 1520
Predecessor Ausias de Puggio
Successor Juan de Aragón y de Guerrea
Personal details
Born 1470
Cervera, Spain
Died February 24, 1520(1520-02-24) (aged 50)
Lécera
Buried La Seo Cathedral
Parents Ferdinand II of Aragon
Aldonza Ruiz de Ivorra
Children Juan de Aragón y de Guerrea
Hernando, Archbishop of Zaragoza
more...

Alonso de Aragón or Alfonso de Aragón (1470 – 24 February 1520) was Archbishop of Zaragoza, Archbishop of Valencia and Lieutenant General of Aragon. Born in Cervera, he was an illegitimate son of Ferdinand II of Aragon by a Catalan noblewoman called Aldonza Ruiz de Ivorra (1452–1516). In his youth his tutor was Antonio Geraldini, brother of the humanist scholar Alessandro Geraldini.

Ecclesiastical career

Aragón was more a politician than a clergyman. His ecclesiastical career was determined by his father when he was five years old; his half-uncle, Juan de Aragón, Archbishop of Zaragoza and illegitimate son of King John II of Aragon, died. Ferdinand II decided that Alonso would succeed him, but Pope Sixtus IV thought that he was too young and appointed Ausías de Puggio. By 1478, the Pope couldn't withstand the pressure any more and appointed Aragón as new Archbishop on 14 August. However, he was not ordained as a priest until 7 November 1501, a day before being ordained as a bishop.

On 23 January 1512, Aragón was appointed Archbishop of Valencia. He was enthroned as such on 4 April 1512.

Political career

His father made him Lieutenant General of the Kingdom of Naples in 1507, to replace Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba. In 1512, he was in command of the troops that conquered Tudela in the Spanish conquest of Iberian Navarre.

When his father died in 1516, the Archbishop was appointed by his will as Lieutenant General of Aragon and de facto ruler of Aragon, due to the insanity of his half-sister, Queen Joanna, who inherited the crown. When Joanna's son and co-ruler, Charles I, arrived in November 1518, the Archbishop was confirmed as Lieutenant General of Aragon. He died two years later in Lécera.

Aragón also realised important modifications on the La Seo Cathedral, where he was buried.

Issue

Despite being Archbishop, Alonso had seven children with Ana de Gurrea (1470–1527), including:

Ancestry

Arms

Former arms of Alonso of Aragon 
Arms as archbishop
(and Lieutenant General) 

References

  1. 1 2 Lundy, Darryl, Frederick Henriques, Conde de Melgar, thePeerage.com, retrieved 25 October 2007
  2. 1 2 Lundy, Darryl, Juana Enriquez, thePeerage.com, retrieved 25 October 2007
  3. 1 2 Lundy, Darryl, Merina de Cordova, thePeerage.com, retrieved 25 October 2007

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Ausias de Puggio
Archbishop of Zaragoza
14 August 1478 – 24 February 1520
Succeeded by
Juan de Aragón
Preceded by
Pedro-Luis de Borja
Archbishop of Valencia
23 January 1512 – 24 February 1520
Succeeded by
Erardo de la Marca
Political offices
New title Lieutenant General of Aragon
1517 – 24 February 1520
Succeeded by
Juan de Lanuza y Torrellas
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