Juan Everardo Nithard

Juan Everardo Nithard SJ (German: Johann Eberhard Nithard) (Falkenstein (Upper Austria), 8 December 1607 – Rome, 1 February 1681) was an Austrian priest of the Society of Jesus, confessor of Mariana of Austria (Queen and Regent of Spain), cardinal, and valido (royal favorite) of Spain.

Born in a Catholic family in Tirol, at the age of 21 he entered the Society of Jesus and studied at the University of Graz.

When Archduchess Mariana married her maternal uncle King Philip IV of Spain in 1649, Nithard accompanied her as her confessor to the Spanish Court.

She made Nithard Grand Inquisitor in 1666, which gave him access to the Regency Board, from where he became the most important person of the Spanish Court.

He allied himself with the influential royal favorite Mariana Engracia Álvarez de Toledo Portugal y Alfonso-Pimentel.