Leonardo Alagon facts for kids
Leonardo Alagon (sometimes called Alagón or de Alagón) was an important leader in Sardinia long ago. He was born in Oristano in 1436 and passed away in Xativa in 1494. He was the very last Marquis of Oristano from 1470 to 1478. A marquis was like a powerful ruler of a large area called a marquisate.
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Becoming the Marquis of Oristano
In 1470, the Marquis of Oristano, Salvatore Cubello, died. He had chosen his nephew, Leonardo Alagon, to take over his lands. Leonardo was the oldest of eight children. His mother was Benedetta Cubello, and his father was Artaldo Alagon y Luna.
However, the viceroy of Sardinia, Nicolò Carroz d'Arborea, disagreed with this choice. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a country or province in the name of a king. Carroz wanted the Marquisate of Oristano for himself. He said that the king had already decided that after Cubello's death, the Marquisate of Oristano and the County of Goceano should become part of the Crown of Aragon. The Crown of Aragon was a powerful kingdom that included parts of modern-day Spain and Italy.
First Battle and Peace Treaty
Because of this disagreement, a battle broke out on April 14, 1470, near Uras. Leonardo Alagon's forces won, and Carroz had to retreat to Cagliari.
In 1474, a peace agreement called the Treaty of Urgell was signed. King John II of Aragon (also known as John the Great) agreed that Leonardo Alagon had the right to be the Marquis.
War Breaks Out Again
Even with the peace treaty, Carroz kept causing trouble, and the war started again. Carroz didn't want to fight Leonardo directly. Instead, he went to Barcelona and convinced the king that Leonardo was going against him. The king then declared that Leonardo and his whole family should lose their lands and be sentenced to death. This happened in 1477.
The conflict also spread to northern Sardinia. Leonardo had hoped for help from people in Genoa and the duke of Milan, but this help never arrived. Meanwhile, Carroz received strong armies from Sicily and Naples.
The Battle of Macomer
On May 19, 1478, Leonardo Alagon's army was badly defeated at the Battle of Macomer. Before the battle was completely lost, Leonardo left the fight. He, his brothers, his sons, and a friend named Giovanni de Sena (the Viscount of Sanluri) escaped to Bosa. From there, they got on a ship, hoping to reach Corsica.
But someone betrayed them. The ship changed course and sailed to Sicily. There, they were handed over to Admiral Villamarin. Instead of taking them to the viceroy of Sicily, the admiral brought them to Barcelona.
Imprisonment and Death
Afterward, Leonardo and Giovanni de Sena were sent to prison in the castle of Xàtiva in Valencia. They both passed away there in 1494. It is believed that they died from sadness because of all the difficult things they had gone through. They were buried in an underground cemetery at the Xativa castle.
See also
In Spanish: Leonardo II de Alagón para niños
