FRANCISCO XIMENES (JIMÉNEZ) DE CISNEROS. — Born in Torrelaguna (Madrid) in 1436, died in Roa on 8 Nov. 1517. After earning a degree in canon law, he went to Rome and remained there from 1449 to 1465. Upon returning to Spain, he clashed with the Archbishop of Toledo, Alonso Carrillo, who had him imprisoned for six years. Later, Bishop Mendoza took him under his protection and appointed him vicar general of Sigüenza. In 1484, Ximenes entered the Franciscan Order, changing his name from Gonzalo to Francisco.
In 1494, he was appointed provincial of the Order and undertook the visitation of the convents of Castile; authorized by a brief of Alexander VI to reform the monasteries.
