Luna, Alvaro de
Luna, Alvaro de
(älvä`rō dā lo͞o`nä), 1391?–1453, constable of Castile, grand master of the Order of Santiago. The favorite of John IIJohn II,1405–54, Spanish king of Castile and León (1406–54), son and successor of Henry III. He was little interested in government, which he entrusted to his favorite Alvaro de Luna.
..... Click the link for more information. of Castile, he virtually ruled the kingdom, winning victories over the Moors (1431) and the rebellious nobles (1445). However he aroused the enmity of John's second wife, Isabel of Portugal, whose schemes led to Luna's trial and execution.
Luna, Alvaro de
Born 1388 in Cñnete; died June 1453 in Valladolid. Count; constable (supreme commander in chief) of Castile from 1423.
A favorite of the Castilian king Juan II and the virtual ruler of Castile, Luna fought against the big feudal lords for the consolidation of royal power. He tried to strengthen the central machinery of the state, increase the importance of royal officials, and subordinate the church to the power of the king. In 1445 he defeated the rebellious aristocracy in the battle of Olmedo. Several times Luna was removed from power upon pressure from the aristocracy, and in 1453 he was accused of sorcery and executed.