Juan Núñez de Lara
Encyclopedia
Juan Núñez de Lara Lord of Lara and Vizcaya, son of Ferdinand de la Cerda (1275–1322)
and Juana Núñez de Lara
the Little Dove. Despite belonging to the House de la Cerda
and aspiring to the Castilian-Leonese throne during the reigns of Sancho IV of Castile
, Ferdinand IV of Castile
and Alfonso XI of Castile
, he carried the family name of his mother which corresponded to the name of his lordship.
He was Lord consort of Biscay, by his marriage to Maria Diaz de Haro II, daughter of Don John de Haro the Eye. He was also Lord of Villafranca, Oropesa, Torrelobatón, Lerma, Paredes de Nava, Castroverde and Aguilar. Ensign of the King and Lord Steward of Alfonso XI of Castile
. He was a great-grandson of Alfonso X the Wise, King of Castile and León, and Louis IX
, King of France.
and Juana Núñez de Lara
the Little Dove. As such, he embodied the claim of his paternal grandfather, the Infante Ferdinand de la Cerda eldest son of King Alfonso X the Wise, while being heir to both the Lara holdings of his namesake maternal grandfather, Juan Núñez de Lara the Fat, and to the lordship of Viscaya coming from his maternal grandmother Teresa Díaz of Haro.
, although his uncle, the late Lord of Lara, had arranged in his will that all his possessions were sold and the proceeds from its sale should go to prayers for the repose of his soul. However, the noblemen of Castile unwilling to remain without a Lord asked the king to appoint Juan Nunez de Lara, despite his young age, master of the House of Lara
. The King concurred and the noblemen gathered a sum of money that included land, castles and villas for the lordship of Lara. In 1326, his signature appears on some border privileges. A year after the death of John de Haro, Juan Nunez de Lara was named Ensign of the King, and as such appears confirmed in his privileges from that year, ranking first among the nobility.
In 1329, Don Juan Manuel, was at odds with Alfonso XI of Castile
, because the king had imprisoned his wife, who was daughter of Don Juan Manuel. Therefore, Don Juan Manuel, suggested that the Lord of Lara be married to Maria Diaz de Haro II. After approval of the marriage by Maria's mother, Don Juan Manuel promised to make war on Alfonso XI, until Maria's father's, Juan de Haro, possessions were returned, along with lordship of Vizcaya. Concluding the agreement, Juan Nunez de Lara and Don Juan Manuel went to the city of Bayonne
, where Maria Diaz de Haro had been taken after the assassination of her father, fearing reprisals from Alfonso XI the Just. In 1331, in the city of Bayonne, Juan Nunez de Lara married Maria Diaz de Haro II.
Shortly thereafter, Don Juan Manuel arranged the marriage of his daughter Constance to Prince Pedro of Portugal, son of Alfonso IV of Portugal. With this, Don Juan Manuel got the support of the Portuguese ruler who had been allied with Alfonso XI, soon to be joined by the King of Granada. The agreements concluded between the Sultan of Granada and Don Juan Manuel, recording in the mutual aid pact that Juan Manuel was supported by Juan Nunez de Lara, with the aim of having Alfonso XI return his wife's possessions that had been confiscated.
in the kingdom of Castile and Leon, Juan Nunez de Lara and Don Juan Manuel, showing their disagreement with the king, were not present at the ceremonies. At that time, both Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara, fortified their positions and tried to alienate the king's servants and members of his house, such as Juan Martinez de Leyva, who left his post as Chamberlain in court and moved to the post of chief steward of Juan Nunez de Lara, despite the entreaties of Alfonso XI. Shortly thereafter, Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara began to make war on Alfonso XI, Don Juan Manuel from his Castle of Peñafiel and Juan Nunez de Lara from the city of Lerma
. The king, who was in the city of Burgos
, moved to the city of Valladolid
. A short time later, Alfonso XI seized the castle of Avia, which had been occupied by supporters of the rebel barons.
In 1333, the Muslims besieged the city of Gibraltar
. The Alfonso IX, who at that time was fighting against the two rebel nobles, sent the masters of the Military Orders to relieve Gibraltar, while he remained in Castile parleying with Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara to achieve peace. Soon after, the king sought the help of Manuel and de Lara to rescue the city of Gibraltar. Don Juan Manuel informed the king, that if he wanted his help he should give him the title of Duke, allow him to decide who inherited his possessions after his death and to be allowed to coin money in his own domain. For his part, Juan Nunez de Lara asked the king for the Lordship of Biscay to be returned to his wife and all the villas, estates and castles which had belonged to her father, John de Haro. Alfonso XI delayed the granting of a response to such demands, and shortly thereafter went to meet with Don Juan Manuel in Peñafiel. Despite the initial goodwill, a final agreement was not reached between the rebel noble and his sovereign. Meanwhile, troops of Juan Nunez de Lara devastated Tierra de Campos
, the king was informed of the seriousness of the situation in the besieged Gibraltar crossing, so Alfonso XI, insisted that Juan Nunez de Lara and Don Juan Manuel accompany him. Meanwhile, the city of Gibraltar capitulated to the Muslims and Alfonso XI began to besiege it, but had to raise the siege before the arrival of troops from Granada and Algeciras. Shortly thereafter, Juan Alfonso de Haro, who was at odds with the king, sided with Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara in their common struggle against Alfonso XI.
During Lent of 1334, a squire of Juan Nunez de Lara gave Alfonso XI a letter, in which he informed the king that he was ending his vassal relationship with him. Enraged the king ordered the feet and hands the message bearer cut off, who was later beheaded. The king then considered attacking Juan Nunez de Lara, who was besieging the town of Cuenca de Campos
. The king, after seizing the towns of Melgar
and Morales, addressed Valladolid
in order to recruit more troops. Soon after, they laid a series of ambushes against Juan Nunez de Lara, who managed to escape. Alfonso XI then decided to seize the strongholds of Vizcaya that were still loyal to Maria Diaz de Haro II, wife of Juan Núñez de Lara. Then the king besieged the fortresses of Villafranca Montes de Oca
and Bustos and seized Peñaventosa, and ordered its demolition. Alfonso XI, after leaving some of his troops besieging the Peña de San Juan, he returned to Castile, where in the town of Agoncillo, ordered the execution of Juan Alfonso de Haro, for abuses committed by him in the kingdom, for his support of rebel barons, and for having appropriated funds belonging to the Crown. After the execution, Alfonso XI besieged the town of Henry, where Juan Nunez de Lara was located, while the sovereign ordered Rodrigo Alvarez of Asturias to the town of Torrelobatón
, where Juana Núñez de Lara
was located. Finding himself surrounded and unable to get help from his ally, Don Juan Manuel, Juan Nunez de Lara decided to make peace with the king. In order to terminate disputes, Alfonxo XI confirmed the lordship of Biscay on Juan Nunez de Lara. Juan Nunez de Lara agreed, in the future, to recognize Alfonso XI as his king and give him all the he required. Shortly thereafter, Don Juan Manuel made the peace with Alfonso XI.
and the Order of Calatrava
to besiege Castle Garcimuñoz, where Don Juan Manuel was located. The village of Torrelobatón soon capitulated to the king's troops, with Alfonso XI imposing the condition that they never return to power of Juan Nunez de Lara.
Juan Nunez de Lara, finding himself surrounded and without possibility of receiving relief, agreed to negotiate peace with Alfonso XI. It was then agreed that Juan Nunez de Lara and his supporters would retain all their possessions, that the fortifications of Lerma, Busto, Villafranca would be demolished, and that de Lara could not fortify any cities without the consent of the king. Also to prevent further transgressions of Juan Nunez, he would give Alfonso XI hostages. Agreeing to terms between them, Alfonso XI appointed Juan Nunez de Lara, Ensign of the King and returned part of the Crown lands that had been theirs, giving also the towns of Cigales
, Villalon de Campos
and Morales.
In 1339, the ambassadors of the King of Aragon reported to Alfonso XI that they were willing to help in the fight against Muslims in the south of the Iberian Peninsula
. That same year, Juan Nunez de Lara was knighted by Alfonso XI in Seville
. In 1339, Alfonso XI invaded the counties of Antequera
and Ronda
, held by the Muslims, joined by Juan Nunez de Lara, Don Juan Manuel and Alfonso Meléndez de Guzman.
The King of Morocco invaded Spain
in 1340, and after a naval battle, defeated the army of Alfonso XI and surrounded the city of Price. Alfonso XI, requested help from the kings of Aragon and Portugal, meeting Alfonso IV of Portugal at city of Seville. In the Battle of Salado, Juan Nunez de Lara, distinguished himself in battle, fought alongside Don Juan Manuel, the Master of the Order of Santiago
and other nobles at the forefront. He took part in the success garnered by the Christian armies at that time. In 1341 Alfonso XI conquered the town of Alcalá la Real, Juan Nunez de Lara was present lieutenant of the king.
, Juan Alfonso de la Cerda, lord of Gibraleón
, knights of France, England and Germany, and even King Philip III of Navarre
, king consort of Navarra, who came accompanied by 100 horsemen and 300 infantry all participated in the siege. In June 1342, Pedro Fernández de Castro
, Lord of Lemos and Sarria died of an epidemic. Alfonso XI divided Pedro's office between Don Juan Manuel, Juan Nunez de Lara, and Fernando Ruiz de Castro
, all possessions that had belonged to his late father. In March 1344, after several years of siege, the city of Algeciras
surrendered.
In 1349, after spending several years in retirement, Juan Nunez de Lara was summoned by Alfonso XI, together with the other nobles, so they could assist in the siege of Gibraltar
. Alfonso XI went to Andalusia and laid siege to Gibraltar until 1350. The Castilian nobles, including Juan Nunez de Lara, petitioned Alfonso XI to lift the siege, because he risked losing his life if he persisted in the company. Despite the entreaties of Juan Nunez, Fernando Manuel, Lord of Villena and son of the late Don Juan Manuel, and Juan Alfonso de Alburquerque, Alfonso XI persisted in his attempt to take Gibraltar, until he died in March 1350. After the death of Alfonso XI
, his eldest son Pedro was proclaimed king. Juan Nunez de Lara, Prince Ferdinand of Aragon and the other nobles lifted the siege of Gibraltar and led the body of Alfonso XI to the town of Seville
, where he was buried in the Chapel Royal. On completion of the actual funeral of Alfonso XI, King Pedro I of Castile confirmed Juan Núñez de Lara in the office of lieutenant of the King and Lord Steward.
On 28 November 1350, Juan Nunez de Lara died, suddenly and mysteriously, in the city of Burgos
. Supporters of Juan Nunez suspected poison.
s, who had close ties to his family. The tomb contained the remains of Juan Nunez de Lara, as well as those of his parents and maternal grandfather.
In his affair with the lady Mayor Leguizamon was born:
Ferdinand de la Cerda (1275–1322)
Fernando de la Cerda was the younger son of Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile and his wife Blanche of France. His paternal grandparents were Alfonso X of Castile and Violant of Aragon. His maternal grandparents were Louis IX of France and Marguerite of Provence...
and Juana Núñez de Lara
Juana Núñez de Lara
Juana Núñez de Lara was a daughter of Juan Núñez de Lara “el Mayor” and his wife Teresa Diaz de Haro of the lordship of Biscaye. Juana is also known as la Palomilla or Lady of Lara.-Marriages:...
the Little Dove. Despite belonging to the House de la Cerda
House de la Cerda
House de la Cerda is a noble line of the Crown of Castile descending from the Infante Ferdinand de la Cerda, eldest son of King Alfonso X. It was one of four noble lineages that arose directly from the Castilian royal family during the thirteenth century and is the origin of the Dukes of...
and aspiring to the Castilian-Leonese throne during the reigns of Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV the Brave was the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1284 to his death. He was the second son of Alfonso X and Yolanda, daughter of James I of Aragon.-Biography:...
, Ferdinand IV of Castile
Ferdinand IV of Castile
Ferdinand IV, El Emplazado or "the Summoned," was a king of Castile and León and Galicia...
and Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
, he carried the family name of his mother which corresponded to the name of his lordship.
He was Lord consort of Biscay, by his marriage to Maria Diaz de Haro II, daughter of Don John de Haro the Eye. He was also Lord of Villafranca, Oropesa, Torrelobatón, Lerma, Paredes de Nava, Castroverde and Aguilar. Ensign of the King and Lord Steward of Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
. He was a great-grandson of Alfonso X the Wise, King of Castile and León, and Louis IX
Louis IX
Louis IX may refer to:* Louis IX of France .* Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria "the Rich" * Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt ....
, King of France.
Family Origins
Son of Ferdinand de la Cerda (1275–1322)Ferdinand de la Cerda (1275–1322)
Fernando de la Cerda was the younger son of Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile and his wife Blanche of France. His paternal grandparents were Alfonso X of Castile and Violant of Aragon. His maternal grandparents were Louis IX of France and Marguerite of Provence...
and Juana Núñez de Lara
Juana Núñez de Lara
Juana Núñez de Lara was a daughter of Juan Núñez de Lara “el Mayor” and his wife Teresa Diaz de Haro of the lordship of Biscaye. Juana is also known as la Palomilla or Lady of Lara.-Marriages:...
the Little Dove. As such, he embodied the claim of his paternal grandfather, the Infante Ferdinand de la Cerda eldest son of King Alfonso X the Wise, while being heir to both the Lara holdings of his namesake maternal grandfather, Juan Núñez de Lara the Fat, and to the lordship of Viscaya coming from his maternal grandmother Teresa Díaz of Haro.
Inheritance
On the death of his uncle, Juan Nunez de Lara the Younger in 1315, he became lord of the House of LaraHouse of Lara
The House of Lara or Casa de Lara are a noble family, known from the medieval Kingdom of Castile.Two of its branches, those from the Duke of Nájera and from the Marquis of Aguilar de Campoo were considered Grandees of Spain...
, although his uncle, the late Lord of Lara, had arranged in his will that all his possessions were sold and the proceeds from its sale should go to prayers for the repose of his soul. However, the noblemen of Castile unwilling to remain without a Lord asked the king to appoint Juan Nunez de Lara, despite his young age, master of the House of Lara
House of Lara
The House of Lara or Casa de Lara are a noble family, known from the medieval Kingdom of Castile.Two of its branches, those from the Duke of Nájera and from the Marquis of Aguilar de Campoo were considered Grandees of Spain...
. The King concurred and the noblemen gathered a sum of money that included land, castles and villas for the lordship of Lara. In 1326, his signature appears on some border privileges. A year after the death of John de Haro, Juan Nunez de Lara was named Ensign of the King, and as such appears confirmed in his privileges from that year, ranking first among the nobility.
In 1329, Don Juan Manuel, was at odds with Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
, because the king had imprisoned his wife, who was daughter of Don Juan Manuel. Therefore, Don Juan Manuel, suggested that the Lord of Lara be married to Maria Diaz de Haro II. After approval of the marriage by Maria's mother, Don Juan Manuel promised to make war on Alfonso XI, until Maria's father's, Juan de Haro, possessions were returned, along with lordship of Vizcaya. Concluding the agreement, Juan Nunez de Lara and Don Juan Manuel went to the city of Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, where Maria Diaz de Haro had been taken after the assassination of her father, fearing reprisals from Alfonso XI the Just. In 1331, in the city of Bayonne, Juan Nunez de Lara married Maria Diaz de Haro II.
Shortly thereafter, Don Juan Manuel arranged the marriage of his daughter Constance to Prince Pedro of Portugal, son of Alfonso IV of Portugal. With this, Don Juan Manuel got the support of the Portuguese ruler who had been allied with Alfonso XI, soon to be joined by the King of Granada. The agreements concluded between the Sultan of Granada and Don Juan Manuel, recording in the mutual aid pact that Juan Manuel was supported by Juan Nunez de Lara, with the aim of having Alfonso XI return his wife's possessions that had been confiscated.
Revolts against Alfonso XI
In 1332, when Alfonso XI was crowned and instituted the Knights of the BandKnights of the Band
The Knights of the Band, or Equites Bindae, were a military order in Spain, instituted by Alfonso XI, King of Castile, c. 1330. It takes its name from the banda, band, sash or red ribbon which came across over the right shoulder and under the left arm of the knight.The order was awarded to certain...
in the kingdom of Castile and Leon, Juan Nunez de Lara and Don Juan Manuel, showing their disagreement with the king, were not present at the ceremonies. At that time, both Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara, fortified their positions and tried to alienate the king's servants and members of his house, such as Juan Martinez de Leyva, who left his post as Chamberlain in court and moved to the post of chief steward of Juan Nunez de Lara, despite the entreaties of Alfonso XI. Shortly thereafter, Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara began to make war on Alfonso XI, Don Juan Manuel from his Castle of Peñafiel and Juan Nunez de Lara from the city of Lerma
Lerma
Lerma is a comune in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km southeast of Turin and about 30 km south of Alessandria....
. The king, who was in the city of Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, moved to the city of Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
. A short time later, Alfonso XI seized the castle of Avia, which had been occupied by supporters of the rebel barons.
In 1333, the Muslims besieged the city of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. The Alfonso IX, who at that time was fighting against the two rebel nobles, sent the masters of the Military Orders to relieve Gibraltar, while he remained in Castile parleying with Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara to achieve peace. Soon after, the king sought the help of Manuel and de Lara to rescue the city of Gibraltar. Don Juan Manuel informed the king, that if he wanted his help he should give him the title of Duke, allow him to decide who inherited his possessions after his death and to be allowed to coin money in his own domain. For his part, Juan Nunez de Lara asked the king for the Lordship of Biscay to be returned to his wife and all the villas, estates and castles which had belonged to her father, John de Haro. Alfonso XI delayed the granting of a response to such demands, and shortly thereafter went to meet with Don Juan Manuel in Peñafiel. Despite the initial goodwill, a final agreement was not reached between the rebel noble and his sovereign. Meanwhile, troops of Juan Nunez de Lara devastated Tierra de Campos
Tierra de Campos
Tierra de Campos is a large historical region or greater comarca that straddles the provinces of León, Zamora, Valladolid and Palencia, in Castile and León, Spain...
, the king was informed of the seriousness of the situation in the besieged Gibraltar crossing, so Alfonso XI, insisted that Juan Nunez de Lara and Don Juan Manuel accompany him. Meanwhile, the city of Gibraltar capitulated to the Muslims and Alfonso XI began to besiege it, but had to raise the siege before the arrival of troops from Granada and Algeciras. Shortly thereafter, Juan Alfonso de Haro, who was at odds with the king, sided with Don Juan Manuel and Juan Nunez de Lara in their common struggle against Alfonso XI.
During Lent of 1334, a squire of Juan Nunez de Lara gave Alfonso XI a letter, in which he informed the king that he was ending his vassal relationship with him. Enraged the king ordered the feet and hands the message bearer cut off, who was later beheaded. The king then considered attacking Juan Nunez de Lara, who was besieging the town of Cuenca de Campos
Cuenca de Campos
Cuenca de Campos is a municipality in Valladolid ....
. The king, after seizing the towns of Melgar
Melgar
Foot Ball Club Melgar, known simply as FBC Melgar or Melgar, is a Peruvian soccer club based in Arequipa, Peru. It is one of Peru's oldest soccer teams, founded on March 25, 1915 by a group of soccer enthusiasts from Arequipa....
and Morales, addressed Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
in order to recruit more troops. Soon after, they laid a series of ambushes against Juan Nunez de Lara, who managed to escape. Alfonso XI then decided to seize the strongholds of Vizcaya that were still loyal to Maria Diaz de Haro II, wife of Juan Núñez de Lara. Then the king besieged the fortresses of Villafranca Montes de Oca
Villafranca Montes de Oca
Villafranca Montes de Oca is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2005 census , the municipality has a population of 164 inhabitants....
and Bustos and seized Peñaventosa, and ordered its demolition. Alfonso XI, after leaving some of his troops besieging the Peña de San Juan, he returned to Castile, where in the town of Agoncillo, ordered the execution of Juan Alfonso de Haro, for abuses committed by him in the kingdom, for his support of rebel barons, and for having appropriated funds belonging to the Crown. After the execution, Alfonso XI besieged the town of Henry, where Juan Nunez de Lara was located, while the sovereign ordered Rodrigo Alvarez of Asturias to the town of Torrelobatón
Torrelobatón
Torrelobatón is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 577 inhabitants....
, where Juana Núñez de Lara
Juana Núñez de Lara
Juana Núñez de Lara was a daughter of Juan Núñez de Lara “el Mayor” and his wife Teresa Diaz de Haro of the lordship of Biscaye. Juana is also known as la Palomilla or Lady of Lara.-Marriages:...
was located. Finding himself surrounded and unable to get help from his ally, Don Juan Manuel, Juan Nunez de Lara decided to make peace with the king. In order to terminate disputes, Alfonxo XI confirmed the lordship of Biscay on Juan Nunez de Lara. Juan Nunez de Lara agreed, in the future, to recognize Alfonso XI as his king and give him all the he required. Shortly thereafter, Don Juan Manuel made the peace with Alfonso XI.
Alfonso XI besieges Juan Nunez
In June 1336, Alfonso XI besieged the town of Lerma, where Juan Nunez de Lara was located. Meanwhile other armies were besieging Torrelobatón, Busto and Villafranca. Alfonso XI also sent the Order of SantiagoOrder of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
and the Order of Calatrava
Order of Calatrava
The Order of Calatrava was the first military order founded in Castile, but the second to receive papal approval. The papal bull confirming the Order of Calatrava as a Militia was given by Pope Alexander III on September 26, 1164.-Origins and Foundation:...
to besiege Castle Garcimuñoz, where Don Juan Manuel was located. The village of Torrelobatón soon capitulated to the king's troops, with Alfonso XI imposing the condition that they never return to power of Juan Nunez de Lara.
Juan Nunez de Lara, finding himself surrounded and without possibility of receiving relief, agreed to negotiate peace with Alfonso XI. It was then agreed that Juan Nunez de Lara and his supporters would retain all their possessions, that the fortifications of Lerma, Busto, Villafranca would be demolished, and that de Lara could not fortify any cities without the consent of the king. Also to prevent further transgressions of Juan Nunez, he would give Alfonso XI hostages. Agreeing to terms between them, Alfonso XI appointed Juan Nunez de Lara, Ensign of the King and returned part of the Crown lands that had been theirs, giving also the towns of Cigales
Cigales
Cigales is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located to the north of Valladolid along both banks of the River Pisuerga....
, Villalon de Campos
Villalón de Campos
Villalón de Campos is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 2,040 inhabitants....
and Morales.
In 1339, the ambassadors of the King of Aragon reported to Alfonso XI that they were willing to help in the fight against Muslims in the south of the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. That same year, Juan Nunez de Lara was knighted by Alfonso XI in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
. In 1339, Alfonso XI invaded the counties of Antequera
Antequera
Antequera is a city and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia. It is known as "the heart of Andalusia" because of its central location among Málaga, Granada, Córdoba, and Seville...
and Ronda
Ronda
Ronda is a city in Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about West from the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is approximately 35,000 inhabitants.-History:...
, held by the Muslims, joined by Juan Nunez de Lara, Don Juan Manuel and Alfonso Meléndez de Guzman.
The King of Morocco invaded Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1340, and after a naval battle, defeated the army of Alfonso XI and surrounded the city of Price. Alfonso XI, requested help from the kings of Aragon and Portugal, meeting Alfonso IV of Portugal at city of Seville. In the Battle of Salado, Juan Nunez de Lara, distinguished himself in battle, fought alongside Don Juan Manuel, the Master of the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
and other nobles at the forefront. He took part in the success garnered by the Christian armies at that time. In 1341 Alfonso XI conquered the town of Alcalá la Real, Juan Nunez de Lara was present lieutenant of the king.
Siege of Algeciras
Alfonso XI surrounded the city of Algeciras, which was in the hands of Muslims. Juan Nunez de Lara, Juan Manuel, Pedro Fernández de CastroPedro Fernández de Castro
Pedro Fernández de Castro , nicknamed o da Guerra , was a powerful Galician noble and military figure of the House of Castro, descended by illegitimate lines from the kings of Castile-Leon-Galicia...
, Juan Alfonso de la Cerda, lord of Gibraleón
Gibraleón
Gibraleón is a town and municipality located in the province of Huelva, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the municipality has a population of 11,202 inhabitants.-External links:* - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía...
, knights of France, England and Germany, and even King Philip III of Navarre
Philip III of Navarre
Philip III , called the Noble or the Wise, Count of Évreux and King of Navarre , was the second son of Louis of Évreux and Margaret of Artois and therefore a grandson of King Philip III of France...
, king consort of Navarra, who came accompanied by 100 horsemen and 300 infantry all participated in the siege. In June 1342, Pedro Fernández de Castro
Pedro Fernández de Castro
Pedro Fernández de Castro , nicknamed o da Guerra , was a powerful Galician noble and military figure of the House of Castro, descended by illegitimate lines from the kings of Castile-Leon-Galicia...
, Lord of Lemos and Sarria died of an epidemic. Alfonso XI divided Pedro's office between Don Juan Manuel, Juan Nunez de Lara, and Fernando Ruiz de Castro
Fernando Ruiz de Castro
Fernando Ruiz de Castro , nicknamed toda a lealdade de España , was a Galician nobleman of the House of Castro and prominent military figure. He was the third Count of Lemos, Trastámara and Sarria....
, all possessions that had belonged to his late father. In March 1344, after several years of siege, the city of Algeciras
Algeciras
Algeciras is a port city in the south of Spain, and is the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar . Port of Algeciras is one of the largest ports in Europe and in the world in three categories: container,...
surrendered.
In 1349, after spending several years in retirement, Juan Nunez de Lara was summoned by Alfonso XI, together with the other nobles, so they could assist in the siege of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. Alfonso XI went to Andalusia and laid siege to Gibraltar until 1350. The Castilian nobles, including Juan Nunez de Lara, petitioned Alfonso XI to lift the siege, because he risked losing his life if he persisted in the company. Despite the entreaties of Juan Nunez, Fernando Manuel, Lord of Villena and son of the late Don Juan Manuel, and Juan Alfonso de Alburquerque, Alfonso XI persisted in his attempt to take Gibraltar, until he died in March 1350. After the death of Alfonso XI
Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
, his eldest son Pedro was proclaimed king. Juan Nunez de Lara, Prince Ferdinand of Aragon and the other nobles lifted the siege of Gibraltar and led the body of Alfonso XI to the town of Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, where he was buried in the Chapel Royal. On completion of the actual funeral of Alfonso XI, King Pedro I of Castile confirmed Juan Núñez de Lara in the office of lieutenant of the King and Lord Steward.
On 28 November 1350, Juan Nunez de Lara died, suddenly and mysteriously, in the city of Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
. Supporters of Juan Nunez suspected poison.
Burial of Juan Nunez de Lara
At his death, the body of Juan Nunez de Lara was buried in the Convento de San Pablo de Burgos by the DominicanDominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
s, who had close ties to his family. The tomb contained the remains of Juan Nunez de Lara, as well as those of his parents and maternal grandfather.
Marriage and offspring
In 1331, he married Maria Diaz de Haro II, Madame de Vizcaya, the daughter of Juan de Haro, Lord of Biscay and Isabel of Portugal. Their children were:- Juana de Lara (1335 - killed in 1359), Lady Lara and Vizcaya. She married Infante Tello of CastileTello of CastileTello of Castile was the seventh of the ten illegitimate children of Alfonso XI of Castile and Eleanor of Guzman. He was a prince of Castile and First Lord of Aguilar de Campoo. In Spanish he is known as Tello de Castilla, Infante de Castilla; Señor de Aguilar de Campoo, de Vizcaya, de Castañeda...
, illegitimate son of Alfonso XI of CastileAlfonso XI of CastileAlfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
, being killed in Seville, with 24 years of age during the civil war between his brothers Pedro I the Cruel and Henry II of Castile.
- Lope Diaz de Haro (1336–1343); Lord (heir) of Biscay, died at age 7.
- Isabel de Lara (1340 - killed in 1361), Lady Lara and Vizcaya, between 1359 and 1361. She succeeded her brother in the possession of the Lordship of Vizcaya. She married the Prince Juan de Aragon, son of Alfonso IV the Benign, King of Aragon.
- Nuno Diaz de Haro (1348–1352). Lord of Lara and Vizcaya. Successor of his father, but died by age 4, in 1352.
In his affair with the lady Mayor Leguizamon was born:
- Pedro de Lara (1348–1384), Count of Mayorga, who married Beatriz de Castro, daughter of Álvaro Pérez de Castro and Maria Ponce de Leon, and granddaughter of Pedro Fernández de CastroPedro Fernández de CastroPedro Fernández de Castro , nicknamed o da Guerra , was a powerful Galician noble and military figure of the House of Castro, descended by illegitimate lines from the kings of Castile-Leon-Galicia...
.