Life

Born at Martín Muñoz de las Posadas

Martín Muñoz de las Posadas

Martín Muñoz de las Posadas is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 439 inhabitants....

 (modern province of Segovia), he was educated in civil law, canon law and theology at the University of Salamanca

University of Salamanca

The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...

.

He was Councillor of the Royal Council of Castile, 1562, and President of the Royal Council of Castile, 1565. He was ordained a priest in 1567, and created Cardinal, by Pope Pius V

Pope Pius V

Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...

, after March 1568. He was Bishop of Sigüenza (1568–1572), and Inquisitor General (december 1566–1572).

He was to be honoured with a title of Marquis and the building of a palace at the expenses of King Philip II of Spain

Philip II of Spain

Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....

, but he only accepted the building in his village of a palace bearing the Crown Royal Arms as paid by public money. This still exists, and is presently used by the Town Hall and secondary schools.

His directness was not appreciated by many, but it is said that the rigid King Philip II, on learning of his death in 1572, commented that he had lost his best-ever Minister.

Memorial

A magnificent praying sculpture of him, by Leone Leoni

Leone Leoni

Leone Leoni was an Italian sculptor of international outlook who travelled in Italy, Germany, Austria, France, the Spanish Netherlands and Spain. Leoni is regarded as the finest of the Cinquecento medallists. He made his reputation in commissions he received from the Habsburg monarchs Charles V,...

 and his son Pompeo Leoni can be found in the village church.

External links

• http://www.fuenterrebollo.com/Heraldica-Piedra/cardenal-espinosa.html