DEZA, DIEGO. - Dominican theologian, born in Toro, Spain in 1444 A.M., died in Seville on 9 June 1523. He taught (1488) at the University of Salamanca, and for several years (1486-94) was tutor to Prince John, heir to King Ferdinand. In 1494 he was elected Bishop of Zamora, then transferred to Salamanca, then to Jaén (1498), to Valencia (1500), to Seville (1504), and finally to Toledo (1523), as Primate of Spain. A friend and confessor to the King of Castile, he was the most powerful supporter of Christopher Columbus at that court.
Among his works are: *Defensorium doctoris catholici*, against the invectives of Matthias Döring in reply, *Tomus contra Paulum Burgensem super Bibliam* (Seville 1491; Paris 1514); *Novarum defensorium doctoris angelici, Thomae super quattuor libros sententiarum* (Seville 1517).