Pero López de Ayala

Don Pero (or Pedro) López de Ayala (1332–1407) was a Castilian statesman, historian, poet, chronicler, chancellor, and courtier.

The earliest known record of their family was an account written by Pero's own father, which claims they descended from Pyrenees Christian royalty and linked them to the Lords of Biscay.

[2] As Alférez mayor del Pendón de la Banda (second lieutenant), he fought with Henry at the Battle of Nájera (1367) and was made a prisoner of the Black Prince but was later released.

He was ransomed for 30,000 doubloons after many had interceded on his behalf, including his wife, Doña Leonor de Guzmán, the Master of Calatrava, and the kings of both Castile and France.

The most famous couplets (424–719) concern "los fechos de Palaçio" ("palace deeds"), which detail the troubles of a courtier who is attempting to collect money that the king owes to him.

Around 1400, for example, he translated Livy's Decades (only books 1, 2 and 4) for Henry III of Castile, working from a French version by Pierre Bersuire.