HURTADO de MENDOZA, DIEGO. - Man of letters and statesman, b. at Granada in 1503, d. at Madrid on 14 Aug. 1575. He studied in Spain and Italy. From 1539 to 1547 he was Spanish ambassador in Venice, where he collected books and manuscripts, especially Greek ones, which he later bequeathed to the Library of the Escorial. In 1545 he represented Charles V at the Council of Trent. In 1547 he was ambassador in Rome and governor of Siena. He served in the war of Granada (1568).
A learned humanist, he composed poetry, sometimes imitating Italian fashions and sometimes the old Spanish style, as well as prose works. Many works were falsely attributed to him. Certainly his is the Guerra de Granada, which recounts the revolt of the moriscos and in which the humanistic style is enlivened by picturesque details and by personal notes of resolute impartiality.