Carlos Coloma facts for kids
Don Carlos Coloma (born February 9, 1566, in Alicante, Spain – died November 23, 1637, in Madrid, Spain) was an important Spanish figure. He was a brave soldier, a clever ambassador, and a talented writer. He even translated books by the famous Roman historian Tacitus.
Carlos Coloma's Family
Carlos Coloma came from a well-known family called the House of Coloma. His father, Juan IV Coloma y Cardona, 1st Count of Elda, was also a soldier and a writer. Carlos was one of 14 children from his father's third marriage. His older brother, Alfonso Coloma, became a bishop in Barcelona.
Carlos married a noblewoman from Flanders named Marguerite of Gavere-Liedekercke. She was a respected member of the Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church. Together, they had ten children: four sons and six daughters.
Carlos Coloma's Career
Carlos Coloma followed in his father's footsteps and joined the army in 1581. He started as a young officer called an ensign. He fought in many places, including Portugal, Sicily, the Netherlands, and Germany. He worked his way up to become a high-ranking general, known as a maestro de campo general. He played a key role in the Siege of Doullens in 1595.
After his military service, Carlos Coloma took on important government roles. He was the governor of Roussillon from 1600 to 1611. Then, he became the viceroy of Mallorca from 1611 to 1617. In 1617, he became the governor of Cambrai.
In 1621, he became the commander-in-chief of the Spanish army. He led the invasion of the Electorate of the Palatinate. The next year, he became the Spanish ambassador to England. He worked to keep peace between Spain and England.
When war broke out in 1624, he returned to Spain. He took part in the Siege of Breda from 1624 to 1625. It is believed that he is shown in the famous painting The Surrender of Breda by Diego Velázquez.
After serving as a commander in Milan, Coloma went back to London in 1630. His mission was to help bring peace between England and Spain again. From 1631 to 1634, he was the commander-in-chief of the Army of Flanders. In his final years, he served King Philip IV as a trusted advisor.
Carlos Coloma was honored for his service. In 1591, he became a knight of the Order of Santiago. Later, in 1627, King Philip IV made him the Marquess of Espinar.
Carlos Coloma's Writings
Carlos Coloma was also a respected author. He wrote a book about the wars in the Netherlands. It was called De las guerras de los Estados Baxos, desde el año de M.D.LXXXVIII. hasta el de M.D.XC.IX. This book was first published in 1622 and had several new editions.
He also translated the works of the Roman historian Tacitus into Spanish. His translation, Obras de Cajo Cornelio Tacito, was published in 1629.
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Coloma para niños
