Íñigo López de Mendoza, 1st Marquis of Santillana

Íñigo López de Mendoza, Marquis de Santillana y Conde del Real de Manzanares (* August 19 1398 in Carrión de los Condes, Palencia, † March 25, 1458 in Guadalajara) was a Spanish statesman and poet.

Life

Mendoza was of noble descent, served at the court of King John II of Castile and distinguished himself in military service. In the fall of Álvaro de Luna ( 1453), Mendoza played an important role. He was later elevated to Marquis ( 1455 ). In his last years he devoted himself to writing. He wrote a collection of didactic proverbs, " de gloriosa Proverbios doctrina ", and a dialog similar style, " Dialogo de bias contra fortuna ". His " Comedieta de Ponza ", influenced by Dante Alighieri, described the Battle of King Alfonso V of Aragon came into Genoese captivity ( 1435 ).

The Marqués de Santillana is considered an early proponent of independent poetry in Spanish. Under the influence of the Italian Renaissance ( Dante, Petrarch ) his sonnets emerged. He led the translation of classical Greek and Latin authors.

Mendoza is the father of the first Duke of El Infantado and the ancestor of all subsequent Dukes. Another son is a cardinal and chancellor Pedro González de Mendoza.