Antonio de Leyva

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Antonio de Leyva, Duke of Terranova (1480–1536) was a Spanish general during the Italian Wars. During the Italian War of 1521, he commanded Pavia during the siege of the city by Francis I of France, and took part in the Battle of Pavia in 1525. After the death of Fernando de Avalos, he held further commands in Italy during the War of the League of Cognac and afterwards, finally dying shortly after attempting an invasion of Provence.

Belonging to a family from Navarre he made his military debut in the Alpujarras (1502) during the struggle against the revolting mudejares from Granada and later served in Italy under the Gran Capitán (1503-1504). He had a prominent part in the Italian Wars and was wounded at the battle of Ravenna (1512). Later on, under the Marquis of Pescara, he fought near Milan and in the unlucky campaign of Provence in 1524.

After this failure he had the post of commander of the garrison of Pavia and here sustained the long siege from the French army led by King Francis I (October 1524-February 1525) which gave time to the Spanish and Imperial forces to reorganize and to win the famous battle of Pavia.

In 1525 he succeeded to the Marquis of Pescara as commander-in-chief of the Spanish-Imperial army in the Duchy of Milan and in 1535, when the last Sforza Duke of Milan, Francesco II, died he was appointed by Emperor Charles V Governor of Milan.

He died of gout during the campaign of Provence in 1536 but was buried in Milan in the now destroyed church of San Dionigi.

His descendants lived in Milan where became one of the most prominent families. One of his descendants was the infamous Nun of Monza.

[edit] References

Bleiberg, Germán (editor). Diccionario de Historia de España vol.2. Madrid, 1986. ISBN 84-206-5206-7.
Konstam, Angus. Pavia 1525: The Climax of the Italian Wars. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-85532-504-7.