Juan López de Padilla (1490 – 24 April 1521) was an insurrectionary leader in the Castilian War of the Communities, where the people of Castile made a stand against policies of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his Flemish ministers.

In 1520, after the Castilian deputies had demanded in vain Charles V's return to Castile, regard for cortes' rights and the administration of their economy by Spaniards, a "holy junta" was formed with Padilla as its head.

At first, the junta attempted to establish a national government in the name of Juana of Castile, but lost the support of the nobility when it abolished their privileges and asserted democracy.

When hostilities resumed, their army was comprehensively defeated near Villalar, on 23 April 1521 and Padilla taken prisoner.

[1] Afterwards, Padilla's wife, Doña María Pacheco, defended Toledo against the royal troops for six months, but ultimately took refuge in Portugal.