Juan Pardo de Tavera

Juan Pardo de Tavera ( born May 16, 1472 Toro, Zamora; † August 1, 1545 in Valladolid) was appointed in 1531 a cardinal of the Catholic Church; Since the year 1534 he was archbishop of Toledo. In the last years of his life ( from 1539 ), he held the office of Grand Inquisitor of Spain.

Biography

Juan Pardo de Tavera graduated (Latin, rhetoric and Canon Law ) at the University of Salamanca; in 1505 he became its rector. In the same year he was awarded a seat in the Chapter of the Cathedral of Seville. In July 1514 he was elected Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo; he received the initiations in the same year.

The Cardinal Adrian of Utrecht commissioned him with the preparations of the marriage between Charles V and Isabella of Portugal, and the marriage of John III. of Portugal with Catherine of Castile. In December 1523 he was appointed Bishop of Osma; already half a year later as Bishop of Santiago de Compostela. In 1524 he became President of the Privy Council and chaired several meetings of the Estates-General by the year 1538. Meanwhile Pope Clement VII appointed him cardinal and archbishop of Toledo. In the years 1539 to 1541 Charles V gave him during his absence the reign over Spain. After his death in 1545, Charles V is said to have remarked that he had died an old man, who had ruled his kingdom with him a cane.

Tomb

Juan Pardo de Tavera was first, then later the donated in Valladolid in the church by himself - but at the time of his death still unfinished - Hospital de Tavera buried in Toledo. Alonso Berruguete created him in the years 1551-1561 a precious marble tomb, where he is represented as reclining figure ( gisant ) - surrounded by the four cardinal virtues of wisdom / wisdom ( sapientia / prudentia ), justice ( justitia ), bravery ( fortitudo ) and moderation ( temperantia ). Also, the posthumous, designed after his death mask, portrait ( 1610 ) by El Greco can be seen there.