Gómez Manrique

Gómez Manrique y de Castilla (c. 1412 – c. 1490) was a Spanish poet, soldier, politician and dramatist.

The fifth son of Pedro Manrique de Lara y Mendoza, (1382–1440), adelantado mayor of Leon.

Gómez Manrique was introduced into public life at an early age, took a prominent part against the constable Alvaro de Luna during the reign of John II, went into opposition against Miguel Lucas de Iranzo in the reign of Henry IV, and declared in favor of the then infanta Isabel, soon to be Queen Isabel I of Castile, whose marriage with Ferdinand of Aragon, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, he promoted.

[1] Besides being a distinguished soldier, Manrique acted as a moderating political influence and, when appointed corregidor of Toledo, was active in protecting the converted Jews from popular resentment.

They at once revealed him to be a poet of eminent merit, and it seems certain that his Consejos, addressed to Diego Arias de Avila, inspired the more famous Coplas of his nephew.