Luna, Alvaro de

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

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.

REFERENCE

Rozenberg, A. M. “Konnetabl’ Kastil’skii Al’varo de-Luna i ego bor’ba s silami feodal’noi reaktsii.” Uch. zap. Leningradskogo gos. ped. in-ta im. Gertsena, 1941, vol. 45.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.