Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba

Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba was a Spanish general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Reconquista of Granada and the Italian Wars. He was born in Montilla, Córdoba, in 1453, as the younger son of a noble family. He entered the service of Prince Alfonso of Asturias, the half-brother of King Henry IV of Castile, and later supported his sister Isabella in her claim to the throne against Juana la Beltraneja. He fought in the War of the Castilian Succession (1474-1479) against Portugal and distinguished himself for his bravery and skill. After Isabella and her husband Ferdinand became the rulers of Castile and Aragon, they appointed Fernández de Córdoba as one of their main generals in the war against the Muslim kingdom of Granada, which lasted from 1482 to 1492. He participated in several sieges and battles, such as Loja, Málaga, Baza, and Granada, and was one of the two commissioners who negotiated the final surrender of the last Nasrid sultan, Boabdil. He also helped to pacify the rebellions of the Moriscos, the converted Muslims who resisted Christianization. In 1495, Isabella sent him to Italy to aid King Ferdinand I of Naples, who was threatened by King Charles VIII of France. Fernández de Córdoba successfully defended Naples and expelled the French from southern Italy. He also captured Ostia from a French garrison at the request of Pope Alexander VI. In 1500, he returned to Italy with a larger army to cooperate with King Louis XII of France against the Ottoman Turks, but also to protect Spanish interests in Naples. He captured Cephalonia from the Turks with the help of Venice, but soon found himself at war with France over the partition of Naples. He defeated the French in several battles, such as Cerignola, Monte Cassino, and Garigliano, using innovative tactics and firearms. He became known as El Gran Capitán (The Great Captain) for his military genius and popularity. He was appointed Viceroy of Naples in 1504 and ruled with justice and efficiency. He patronized arts and culture and improved the administration and economy of the kingdom. However, he fell out of favor with King Ferdinand II of Aragon (the husband of Isabella), who was jealous of his power and achievements. He was recalled to Spain in 1507 and stripped of his titles and lands. He retired to his estate near Granada and lived there until his death in 1515 from malaria. He was buried in the Monastery of San Jerónimo in Granada, next to his wife María Manrique de Lara y Figueroa, whom he married in 1489. They had three children: Elvira, Luis, and Gonzalo. He was also related to other prominent figures of Spanish history, such as Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba; Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, Viceroy of Naples; Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of Peru; Hernán Cortés, conqueror of Mexico; and Francisco de Borja, saint and Jesuit leader. He is regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of all time and a pioneer of modern warfare. He reformed the Spanish army and introduced the use of firearms, pikes, and artillery in effective formations. He also employed mobility, surprise, and intelligence in his strategy. He influenced many later generals, such as the Duke of Alba, Alexander Farnese, and Napoleon Bonaparte. He is honored as a hero in Spain and Italy and has been the subject of many books, paintings, and monuments.