Juan Manuel, lord of Belmonte facts for kids

Juan Manuel de Villena y de la Vega (died 1543) was an important nobleman from Castile, a kingdom in old Spain. He was the third lord of Belmonte. Juan Manuel was also a member of a special group called the Order of the Golden Fleece. He held many important jobs, like being the chief accountant for Castile and a local governor (reeve) in several cities. These cities included Burgos, Segovia, Plasencia, Jaén, and Atienza.

His Life and Career

Juan Manuel de Villena had a busy life serving his country. In 1499, he worked as an Ambassador for Spain in England. This meant he represented Spain and helped with relations between the two countries.

Challenges and New Roles

After King Philip I of Castile died in 1506, Juan Manuel had a disagreement with Ferdinand II of Aragon. This conflict led to him being sent away from Spain. He went to Flanders, which is now part of Belgium. There, he was arrested and put in prison.

Later, a powerful ruler named Charles V helped him. Charles V freed Juan Manuel. He then appointed Juan Manuel as an ambassador to Pope Leo X, who was the leader of the Catholic Church. In 1523, Juan Manuel received another important job. He became a councillor of state, advising the king on important matters.

Family and Legacy

Juan Manuel was married to Catalina de Rojas. He cared about his family's history and faith. In 1536, he helped restore a part of St Paul's abbey in Peñafiel. He made sure that one of the chapels in the church would be used as a special burial place for his family.

Today, his own tomb is there. The tombs of his mother, Aldonza de la Vega, and his wife are also in the chapel.

Juan Manuel's oldest son and heir was Lorenzo Manuel de Villena y Rojas. Lorenzo was also an important person. He was a commander in the Order of Alcántara and a senior butler to Charles V. Juan Manuel had other younger sons too: Juan, Pedro, Lorenzo, and Rodrigo. Juan later became a bishop.

In Movies and TV Shows

Juan Manuel de Villena is such an interesting historical figure that he has appeared in movies and TV shows. He was a character in the Spanish film Juana la Loca (2001). In this movie, Chema de Miguel played him. He also appeared in the TV series Isabel (2014). In this show, Jacobo Dicenta played Juan Manuel. Jacobo Dicenta played him again in the film La corona partida (2016).

See also

In Spanish: Juan Manuel, señor de Belmonte para niños