Alonso de Aragón

Alonso de Aragón or Alfonso de Aragón (Cervera, 1470 - Lécera, february 24 1520) was an illegitimate son of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Aldonza Ruiz de Ivorra, Archbishop of Zaragoza and viceroy of Aragón.

Alonso de Aragón was more a politician than a clergyman. His ecclesiastical career was determined by his father when he was 5 years old, and Juan de Aragón, illegitimate son of King John II of Aragon and Archbishop of Zaragoza died. Ferdinand II decided that Alonso would succeed him, but Pope Sixtus IV thought that he was to young and appointed Ausías de Puggio. By 1478, the Pope couldn't withstand the pressure any more and appointed Alonso as new Archbishop.

In 1512, he was in command of the troops that conquered Tudela in the Spanish conquest of Iberian Navarre.

When his father died in 1516, Alonso was appointed by the King's will as Viceroy of Aragón and de facto ruler of Aragón, pending the arrival of his grandson Charles I of Spain in November 1518.

Alonso also realised important modifications on the La Seo Cathedral, where he was buried.

Children

Despite being Archbishop, Alonso had 7 children with Ana de Gurrea (1470 - 1527), including :

• Juan (1498 - 1530), next Archbishop of Zaragoza.
• Hernando (1498 - 1575), also Archbishop of Zaragoza and Viceroy of Aragón (1566 - 1575).