Diego García de Paredes facts for kids
Diego García de Paredes (1466–1534) was a brave Spanish soldier and a skilled duelist. He came from a town called Trujillo in Extremadura, Spain. He was known for his amazing strength and courage during battles.
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A Brave Soldier from Spain
Diego García de Paredes was a very important soldier in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Even though he never became a general or led a whole army, his personal bravery and skill in fighting were very important in battles back then. His hometown, Trujillo, was also the birthplace of many famous Spanish explorers and conquerors, known as conquistadores, like the Pizarro family.
Early Life and Adventures
When he was young, Diego fought in the Granada War in Spain. He was very strong, daring, and quick. These skills made him excellent at night marches, climbing walls, surprise attacks, and hand-to-hand combat.
Most of his adventures happened in Italy. He went there after getting into a serious argument over a horse, which led to a fight where someone related to him was hurt. He then went to Rome, which was ruled by the Borgias at that time.
Serving Popes and Princes
Diego was distantly related to a powerful cardinal, Bernardino López de Carvajal, who was a favorite of Pope Alexander VI. The Pope was having conflicts with powerful families in Italy, and Diego joined the Pope's army. He served the Pope for a while. However, after another personal disagreement, he decided to join the Pope's enemies, the Colonnas, who really valued his fighting skills.
Later, he found a better opportunity to serve during the wars between King Ferdinand V of Spain and King Louis XII of France.
Famous Battles and Later Life
The famous Spanish general Gonzalo de Córdoba trusted Diego and gave him important tasks. Diego fought in many wars in Italy and also near the border of Navarre. He even fought against the Turks near the Danube River until 1530.
Diego García de Paredes died in Bologna in 1534. He had a fall while taking part in a horse-jumping competition with younger soldiers. His body was later brought back to his hometown of Trujillo and buried in the church of Santa María la Mayor in 1545.
In a short summary of his life, which was printed in 1584, Diego himself said that his achievements were mostly due to being a very strong and athletic person.
A Hero in Literature
Diego García de Paredes is even mentioned in the famous Spanish book Don Quixote. In the story, a character called the curate talks about Diego as an example of a true hero. He suggests that people should read about real heroes like Diego instead of made-up stories about knights.
His Son, the Conquistador
Diego García de Paredes also had a son, who was also named Diego García de Paredes. His son became a conquistador too and founded several cities in Venezuela.
See also
In Spanish: Diego García de Paredes (1468-1533) para niños
