Juan López de Padilla | |
Captain General of Toledo | |
More: | no |
Spouse: | María Pacheco |
Father: | Pedro López de Padilla |
Birth Date: | 10 November 1490 |
Birth Place: | Toledo, Crown of Castile |
Death Date: | 24 April 1521 (aged 31) |
Death Place: | Villalar, Crown of Castile |
Burial Place: | La Mejorada monastery, Olmedo |
Occupation: | Hidalgo and revolutionary leader |
Juan López de Padilla (1490 - 24 April 1521) was an insurrectionary leader in the Castilian War of the Communities, where the people of Castile made a stand against policies of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his Flemish ministers.
Padilla was born in Toledo, Spain, the eldest son of the commendator of Castile. In 1520, after the Castilian deputies had demanded in vain Charles V's return to Castile, regard for cortes' rights and the administration of their economy by Spaniards, a "holy junta" was formed with Padilla as its head. At first, the junta attempted to establish a national government in the name of Juana of Castile, but lost the support of the nobility when it abolished their privileges and asserted democracy. Though the nobles' army subsequently captured Tordesillas, Padilla led the capture of Torrelobatón and other towns, but any advantage gained was neutralized by the junta after it granted an armistice. When hostilities resumed, their army was comprehensively defeated near Villalar, on 23 April 1521 and Padilla taken prisoner. He was publicly beheaded the following day.
Afterwards, Padilla's wife, Doña María Pacheco, defended Toledo against the royal troops for six months, but ultimately was compelled to take refuge in Portugal.