John of Austria, 1545–78, Spanish admiral and general

John of Austria, 1545–78, Spanish admiral and general; illegitimate son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He was acknowledged in his father's will and was recognized by his half brother, Philip II of Spain. In 1569 he fought against the Morisco rebels in Granada. As admiral of the Holy League, formed against the Ottoman Empire by Pope Pius V, Spain, and Venice, he won the famous naval victory of Lepanto Lepanto, battle of (lĭpăn`tō), Oct.
..... Click the link for more information. (1571). He later took Tunis and served as governor-general in Italy. In 1576 he was sent by Philip as governor-general to the Netherlands, then in rebellion against Spain under the leadership of William the Silent William the Silent or William of Orange (William I, prince of Orange), 1533–84, Dutch statesman, principal founder of Dutch independence.
..... Click the link for more information. . John was forced to make concessions but then resumed hostilities. His victorious general, Alessandro Farnese Farnese, Alessandro (älĕs-sän`drō färnā`zā)
..... Click the link for more information. , succeeded him as governor-general on his death.

Bibliography

See Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, Don John of Austria (1883).

John of Austria, 1629–79, Spanish general and statesman

John of Austria, 1629–79, Spanish general and statesman; illegitimate son of Philip IV. He helped put down Masaniello's revolt (1647) in Naples, was viceroy of Sicily (1648–51), and fought (1651–52) against the rebels in Catalonia. In 1656, while France was at war with Spain (see Fronde Fronde (frôNd), 1648–53, series of outbreaks during the minority of King Louis XIV, caused by the efforts of the Parlement of
..... Click the link for more information. ), he was appointed governor of the Spanish Netherlands. He was defeated by Turenne at the battle of the Dunes Dunes, Battle of the, 1658, decisive engagement fought near Dunkirk in the struggle between France and Spain that had resulted from Spanish intervention in the Fronde .
..... Click the link for more information. (1658) and recalled. His campaign (1661–64) for the reconquest of Portugal also failed. During the minority of Charles II Charles II, 1661–1700, king of Spain, Naples, and Sicily (1665–1700), son and successor of Philip IV. The last of the Spanish Hapsburgs, he was physically crippled and mentally retarded.
..... Click the link for more information. , he overthrew the regency of the queen-mother Mariana and seized power (1677). His government lost Franche-Comté to France by the peace of Nijmegen (1678).