Alonso Pita da Veiga facts for kids

The Battle of Pavia (1525)

Alonso Pita da Veiga was a Spanish nobleman and military officer. He was born around 1485–1490 in Ferrol, Spain. He passed away in 1554 in Pontedeume, also in Spain.

Alonso Pita da Veiga was a commander in the Spanish Tercios. These were famous Spanish military units. He fought in the Italian Wars between 1513 and 1525. One of his most important battles was the Battle of Pavia in 1525.

After this battle, he received special honors. He was given the right to use a coat of arms. He also received land and property in his hometown. This was because he helped capture Francis I, the King of France, during the battle.

Special Award from the Emperor

Four years after the Battle of Pavia, Emperor Charles V gave Alonso Pita da Veiga a special award. This happened on July 24, 1529. The award was a decree, which is like an official order.

The decree said that Alonso Pita da Veiga, a "Galician and our vassal," served the Emperor well. He fought in several important battles. These included the Battle of Bicencio and the Battle of Bicocca.

His Actions at the Battle of Pavia

The decree specifically mentioned Alonso Pita da Veiga's bravery at the Battle of Pavia.

Saving the Standard

First, he helped get back a special flag, called a standard. This flag belonged to Don Fernando, who was the Emperor's brother. The French had taken this flag after its bearer was killed. The standard had the symbols of the Duchy of Burgundy. For this brave act, Alonso Pita da Veiga received 600 gold ducats.

Capturing the King

The decree also stated that Alonso Pita da Veiga played a big part in capturing King Francis I of France. It said he "reached the person of said King and captured him, jointly with the other persons that captured him." This means a group of people captured the King, and Alonso Pita da Veiga was one of them.

For helping to capture the King, Alonso Pita da Veiga received a yearly payment. This payment was 30,000 maravedís for the rest of his life. This was extra money, on top of his regular pay as an hombre de arma. An hombre de arma was a mounted warrior, like a knight on horseback.

Items Taken from the King

The decree also mentioned specific items Alonso Pita da Veiga took from King Francis I. These included the King's left gauntlet (a type of glove). He also took a fancy cloth called a brocade. This brocade had four silver crosses on it. There was also a crucifix made from a piece of the True Cross. The King of France himself confirmed these events in a signed document.

His New Coat of Arms

Because of his brave actions, Alonso Pita da Veiga was given a special coat of arms. This coat of arms showed different parts of his deeds at the Battle of Pavia.

• One part of the shield was blood-red. It showed a gauntlet. This symbolized him taking the gauntlet from the King of France. A golden royal crown was placed above the gauntlet.
• Another part had a blue background with three gold fleur-de-lis. These are the symbols of the Kings of France.
• A third part was also blood-red. It showed the brocade with its crosses.
• The last part was also blood-red. It showed the standard of the King of Hungary. This standard had the symbols of the Duchy of Burgundy.

See also

In Spanish: Alonso Pita da Veiga para niños

• Habsburg Spain The first Habsburg ruler of Spain was Charles I of Spain, who was also Emperor Charles V.