Luis de Haro

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Luis Menéndez de Haro y Sotomayor (Valladolid, 1598 - Madrid, 1661) was a Spanish political figure and general.

He was the son of don Diego de Haro, marquis of Carpio, and of doña Francisca de Guzmán, sister of count Olivares.

He made a career at the Spanish court under protection of his uncle, whom he succeeded as valido in the king's confidence when Olivares was driven from office in 1643.

He never achieved the same influence and control as his uncle , mainly because Philip IV also relied on Sister Maria de Agreda. She convinced the king to abolish the function of valido.

Luis de Haro was the main Spanish negotiator of the Treaty of the Pyrenees on Pheasant Island in 1659. He did not succeed in avoiding a negative result, nor did he reach an anti-French alliance with Oliver Cromwell.

His main success was the oppression of the Catalan uprising and the reconquest of Barcelona in 1652. The Portuguese Restoration War on the contrary was a complete failure. Luis de Haro personally led the Spanish troups at the Battle of the Lines of Elvas in 1659, which ended in total defeat.

He died in Madrid in 1661.