juan pacheco.cruz de santiago

Juan Pacheco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Cross of the Order of Santiago.

Juan Pacheco (Belmonte, 1419-Trujillo October 1, 1474). Noble Castilian that dominated the political scene since the late years of the reign of Juan II of Castile until almost the reign of Isabella the Catholic and confidant of Henry IV of Castile.

Held the titles of Marquis of Villena, the Count of Xiquena, Duke of Escalona for his marriage to his second wife, Master of the Order of Santiago and Grand master of the king's house.


Contents [hide]
1 Biography
2 Nuptials and offspring
3 Notes
4 Bibliography

[edit]Biography

Juan Pacheco was the son of Alfonso Tellez Giron and Vázquez de Acuña and Maria Pacheco, daughter of Juan Fernandez Pacheco, first lord of Belmonte (Cuenca) and Agnes Téllez de Meneses. In a family from the Portuguese nobility, having been exiled to Castile after the battle of Aljubarrota (1385), were owners of their main possessions Belmonte as the Alcazar, built by Prince Don Juan Manuel, and later the castle of Belmonte, which was built by Juan Pacheco 1456 after being named the Marquis de Villena. In his childhood playmate was Henry IV of Castile. Was a page of Alvaro de Luna who intervened to bring it into court as Child of Prince Henry. Dominated the political scene since the late years of the reign of Juan II of Castile until almost the reign of Isabella the Catholic, being a man of confidence of Henry IV of Castile and who take political decisions. In January 1442, barely twenty-two, Pacheco had reached the office of chamberlain of the prince, the highest position in the house of the heir after the steward, who was still playing the constable Alvaro. That same year he joined the lordship of Moguer via his marriage to Maria Portocarrero, who had an important legacy, which was then stripped, but Juan Pacheco would look to recover in subsequent years. He was appointed marquis of Villena, the first title of marquis conferred by a Castilian monarch in 1445 after the first Battle of Olmedo. Also won by then the Master of the Order of Calatrava for his brother, Pedro Giron. In the conflict that arose soon after between King John II of Castile and the Infante Enrique, Juan Pacheco mediated by the prince, taking Alvaro de Luna as a mediator of the king. The agreement would benefit the mediators. Other charges of Juan Pacheco would be the higher Adelando of Castile from 1451 to 1456 and of merino higher Asturias from 1461 to 1462. Also achieved for himself the post of Master of the Order of Santiago in 1467 from the hand of Prince Alfonso,[1] which some nobles had elected king in the Farce of Avila.

In 1463, in the meeting of Bayonne, offered his services to France. With this alliance, France encircled the eternal enemy, the kingdom of Aragon. In gratitude, Louis XI promised the hand of his daughter, Joanna, with the youngest son of Pacheco, Pedro de Portocarrero. The Aragonese king's reaction was swift, to win the friendship of Castilla and void the Castilla-French alliance, promised his son Fernando Pacheco's daughter, Beatriz Pacheco. In 1466 his nephew, Rodrigo Tellez Giron, was elected Master of the Order of Calatrava. Being a minor, Juan Pacheco would be his tutor, giving him the post of coadjutor of the order since 1469. As such, he would have the same powers as the masters used to have, except in spiritual matters, which should be delegated to persons belonging to the order, but one he might choose. So the writers of the time claimed he was master of Calatrava, in addition to Master of Santiago.[2]

In 1469, Princess Elizabeth married Ferdinand of Aragon, against the will of King Henry and the covenants set, starting the War of the Castilian Succession where John Pacheco would side with the side of the Princess Juana, nicknamed la Beltraneja by her enemies.

He died on October 1, 1474, Santa Cruz, near Trujillo, shortly before the death of King Henry IV.
[edit]Nuptials and offspring

He contracted three marriages. The first was with Angelina de Luna, cousin of the constable Alvaro de Luna. That marriage was annulled in 1442 for several reasons, including that it was done out of fear or coercion and that he never consummated.[3]

Soon after, he married Maria Enriquez Portocarrero (d. 1470), daughter of Peter (Martin Fernandez) de Portocarrero and Cabeza de Vaca, V Lord of Moguer, and Beatriz Enriquez, daughter of Alonso de Mendoza and Juana Enríquez. The canonical marriage was valid until 1456 that Pope Callistus III authorized the marriage by the church and the legitimation of children who had until that date.[4]

The children of this link were:[5]
Diego López de Pacheco y Portocarrero, who succeeded his father in title and status.
Pedro de Portocarrero, who inherited the lordship of Moguer and Villanueva del Fresno of his maternal family.
Francisca de Pacheco, wife of Íñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones Grand Tendilla
Beatriz Pacheco, married c. 1490 Ponce de Leon Rodrigo, Marquis of Cádiz[6]
Maria de Pacheco, wife of Rodrigo Alonso Pimentel IV, Count and Duke of Benavente
Luis de Pacheco
Lope de Pacheco
Juana de Pacheco

Widower of his first wife, he married Maria de Velasco, daughter of Pedro Fernandez de Velasco and Manrique de Lara and Mencia de Mendoza y Figueroa, born of this marriage a daughter:
Mencia Pacheco, who married Diego de Cardenas Enríquez, Duke of Maqueda I.

He had several children out of wedlock. Alonso Urueña Catherine had two sons who were legitimized the April 25, 1456 by King Henry IV of Castile:[7]John and Elizabeth Pacheco. Besides these two children, had Alonso, Rodrigo, Beatrice, and of an unknown mother Leonor Pacheco.
Preceded by
Alfonso of Castile
Grand Master of the Order of Santiago
1467–1474 Succeeded by
Alonso de Cárdenas
Preceded by
Ruy Diaz de Mendoza Grand Master of the King's House
1454–1472 Succeeded by
Diego López de Pacheco y Portocarrero