Diego Fernández de Córdoba y Mendoza facts for kids

Diego Fernández de Córdoba y Mendoza (died 11 August 1525) was a Spanish nobleman. He held the title of the 3rd Count of Cabra. He was known for his important role in the war that led to the conquest of the Emirate of Granada. This was the last Muslim kingdom in Spain. After the war, he became a very influential person in Castile.

About His Family

Diego was the son of Diego Fernández de Córdoba y Carrillo de Albornoz. His father was the 2nd Count of Cabra. He was also a very important nobleman in Spain during his time. Diego's father played a big part in the conquest of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada.

His mother was María Hurtado de Mendoza. She also came from a very high-ranking noble family in Castile. Diego grew up learning about warfare. He even joined his father in the Granada War (1482–1491) when he was young.

Diego married twice. His first wife was Beatriz Enriquez de Velasco. She was a cousin of King Ferdinand II of Aragon. His second wife was Francisca de Zúñiga and de la Cerda. Diego had many children, both from his marriages and outside of them.

His Military Adventures

Diego became the Count of Cabra in 1487 after his father passed away. He quickly showed his own skills during the sieges of Granada. These were battles to capture the city.

In 1488, the Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Castile, gave him an important job. They told him to attack Granada from the region of Murcia. Diego gathered his forces and won many battles. He successfully captured the towns of Baza and Huéscar.

The fighting continued in 1489. The King and Queen asked him to invade Granada from Guadix in May. He brought 250 horsemen and 300 foot soldiers. With his uncle, Martín Alfonso de Córdoba, he helped the entire Alpujarras region fall to the Christian forces the next year.

The war went on with more attacks on the Nasrid kingdom. Diego also helped defend Baza. On April 23, 1491, he led another attack to end the conflict. Diego Fernández de Córdoba was present in December 1491 when the Capitulations of Santa Fe were signed. This agreement officially ended the war.

Life After the War

After the war ended, the Catholic Monarchs rewarded Diego in 1493. He received control of the towns of Canillas de Aceituno, Árchez, and Corumbela. These towns were in the Sierra de Bentomiz and Vélez-Málaga area. He now had a lot of power and influence in Castile.

On June 11, 1499, he was appointed as a joint viceroy and governor of Castile. This meant he helped rule the kingdom when the King and Queen were away. He shared this role with Gómez Suárez de Figueroa.

Diego was also one of three ambassadors sent to England on August 26, 1501. Their mission was to accompany Princess Catherine of Aragon for her marriage to Arthur, Prince of Wales. The other ambassadors were Alonso de Fonseca y Acevedo, an archbishop, and his cousin Antonio de Rojas Manrique, a bishop.

Later in his life, Diego helped bring peace to Córdoba. This work earned him the thanks of Emperor Charles V. Diego Fernández de Córdoba y Mendoza passed away in Baena, Córdoba, on August 11, 1525.

See also

In Spanish: Diego Fernández de Córdoba, III conde de Cabra para niños