Rodrigo Vázquez de Arce facts for kids

This is a painting of Rodrigo Vázquez de Arce. It was made around 1590.

Rodrigo Vázquez de Arce (born in 1529, died in 1599) was an important Spanish leader and a top legal expert. He helped rule Spain during the time of King Philip II.

A Smart Man's Journey

Rodrigo Vázquez de Arce was born in a city called Ávila, in Spain. His father was a law professor and an advisor to King Charles I of Spain. Rodrigo followed in his father's footsteps and studied law at the University of Valladolid.

After finishing his studies, Rodrigo became a judge in a special court called the Royal Chancellery of Granada. He also became a member of the Council of Castile, which was a very important group that advised the king. He even joined the Council of the Inquisition, a powerful religious court.

Helping the King

In 1579, King Philip II of Spain sent Rodrigo to Portugal. This was during a time when Portugal needed a new king after King Sebastian I died. Philip II wanted to claim the throne of Portugal for himself, and Rodrigo was there to help make that happen.

When Rodrigo came back to Spain, he continued to rise in power. He became a councillor in the Chamber of Castile and was made a knight of the Order of Alcántara, a special group of knights.

Top Positions

In 1584, Rodrigo became the president of the Council of Hacienda. This council was in charge of all the money and finances for the kingdom. Later, in 1592, he became the president of the Council of Castile, which was one of the most powerful jobs in the government.

He was also a judge in a big trial involving the king's secretary, Antonio Pérez. King Philip III later made Rodrigo a member of the Council of State, another very important advisory group.

A Difficult End

However, Rodrigo's time in power came to an end. Another powerful person, the Count of Miranda, convinced the king to remove Rodrigo from his position as president of the Council of Castile. The Count of Miranda then took Rodrigo's place.

Rodrigo was asked to leave the royal court. He went to live in a town called El Carpio. He passed away there a few months later due to illness. He was buried in his family's special burial place in the church of Santiago Apóstol in El Carpio.

See also

In Spanish: Rodrigo Vázquez de Arce para niños