Francisco de Melo
16th/17th-century Portugues nobleman, general of the Spanish Empire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dom Francisco de Melo (1597 – 18 December 1651) was a Portuguese nobleman who served as a Spanish general during the Thirty Years' War.
Spanish ArmyFrancisco de Melo | |
|---|---|
Francisco de Melo as Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. | |
| Born | 1597 Estremoz, Portugal |
| Died | 18 December 1651 (aged 53–54) Madrid, Spain |
| Allegiance | Spain |
| Branch | Spanish Army |
| Service years | 1638–1645 |
| Rank | Captain General |
| Conflicts | Thirty Years' War Catalan Revolt |
Biography
Francisco was born in Estremoz, Portugal. From 1632 to 1636 he was the Spanish ambassador to the Republic of Genoa.[1] In 1638, Francisco was appointed viceroy of Sicily,[2] and two years later he was ambassador in Vienna.[1] He was appointed as an understudy of Marquess of Leganés.[3]
Francisco was marquis of the Portuguese Tor de Laguna, count of Assumar, and from 1641 to 1644, interim governor of the Southern Netherlands.[4]
When Francisco arrived in the Southern Netherlands, he already had an impressive political career. He scored a victory against Antoine III de Gramont at the Battle of Honnecourt in May 1642.[5]
Francisco was defeated at the Battle of Rocroi in 1643.[3][a] In August 1644, Francisco returned to Spain and was appointed to the council of state and royal military adviser by Philip IV of Spain.[6][4]
