DIEGO DE ESPINOSA. — Cardinal, born in 1502 at Martín Muñoz de las Posadas (Segovia) into a noble but poor family, died in Madrid on 5 September 1572. The reputation of being an excellent jurist, which he had acquired while still young by teaching at the University of Salamanca, opened the way to the highest political offices for him, thanks to the favour of Philip II.
He was first regent and then president of the Royal Council of Castile and of the Council of State, superintendent for Italian affairs, bishop of Sigüenza (1558), Grand Inquisitor of Spain, and cardinal (1568). Hated by Don Carlos and by the nobility, whom he always treated with haughtiness, he finally fell into disgrace with the king as well. He was generally censured for the excessive zeal he displayed as Inquisitor, but praised for his great ability, disinterestedness, and love of justice.
ESPINOSA, DIEGO DE
Bibl.: See in general the histories of Philip II and especially that of his contemporary L. Cabrera de Córdoba, Feltre II, 4 vols., Madrid 1876-77 (see index); annotated s.V. in Biografia etnologica, V, pp. 585-89; Pascer, VIII, pp. 107-108 and passim; F. Braudel, La Méditerranée et le monde méditerranéen à l'époque de Philippe II, Paris 1949 (see index). Renata Orazi Ausenda