COVARRUVIAS, DIDACO. – A renowned Spanish jurist, b. in Toledo on 25 July 1512 and d. in Madrid on 27 Sept. 1577.
Martino de Azpilcueta (v.), he taught canon law at the University of Salamanca from 1543 and was a councillor of the Court of Granada. Elected bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1566, he took part in the Council of Trent, where he was entrusted with drafting the Decreta de Reformatione. On returning to his homeland, he was appointed bishop of Segovia and subsequently of Cuenca. His profound knowledge of canon and civil law earned C. the designation “the Spanish Bartolo.”
Works: Epitome de sponsalibus et matrimonii (1543); Variarum resolutiorum ex iure pontificio, regio et caesareo libri quattuor (1552–70); commentaries on books of the Decretals and various other treatises.