Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/149

ALV But it was under Philip that Alva's name became most prominent in Spanish history. He had much in common with that tyrant, and proved an acceptable adviser and well-qualified assistant in his schemes for the attainment of absolute monarchy, and the suppression of heresy throughout his dominions. At the time of Philip's accession, Alva was conducting a war against Pope Paul IV., who had entered into an alliance with Henry of France, for the invasion of the Spanish dominions in Italy. In this campaign he was successful, and twice the city of Rome itself lay at his mercy; but either his own reverence for the sacred capital, or the instructions of the king, kept him from leading his armed forces within the gates. He concluded a peace with the pope in 1557, and subsequently attended as Philip's plenipotentiary, in concluding the treaty of Chateau Cambresis, which he afterwards cemented by negotiating the marriage of Philip with the sister of the French king. This treaty contemplated not so much peace between the contracting powers, as combined efforts for the suppression of the protestant cause in Europe. To this object Alva resolutely applied himself, and there can be little doubt that the severe measures now adopted against the protestants in France, and even the massacre of St. Bartholemew itself, are to be attributed mainly to his advice.

Meanwhile, in the Low Countries, matters were going ill for the cause of Spanish monarchy and the church of Rome. The Guesen League had been formed to resist Spanish innovation. The chief nobles, William of Orange, and the Counts Egmont and Horn, showed themselves little disposed to strengthen the hands of the duchess of Parma, against the demands of their countrymen, while the common people were forming themselves into bands of image-breakers, entering the churches, and despoiling them of their ornaments. Alarmed by these commotions, the duchess sent an earnest request for her royal brother to visit the provinces in person. He professed that it was his intention to do so, but resolved instead to send Alva at the head of an army to chastise the rebels. His approach spread terror among all classes of the inhabitants; even the regent sought to prevent the entry of his army. But he produced his commission, giving him sole power in military matters, and intimated to her that he had further instructions which he could produce if occasion required, investing him with still more absolute authority. William of Orange had wisely fled at the approach of his old enemy, but the Counts Egmont and Horn, who had all along shown more loyalty than their friend, sought to win the favour of government by remaining. These nobles were received by Alva with an appearance of goodwill, which, however, he did not long maintain; for shortly after his arrival, at a feast in Kuilemberg House, where he had taken up his residence, they were arrested at his command, and cast into prison. On the pretext of inquiring into the late disturbances, Alva instituted a tribunal of twelve persons, chiefly Spaniards, which he named "The Court of Tumults," but which speedily merited the name given to it in history of "The Bloody Tribunal." Thousands of those suspected of heresy, or who had in any way been connected with the Guesen league, as well as those more immediately concerned in the late insurrections, were brought before it, and with scarcely the show of justice, condemned to die. Vast crowds fled in terror from the country, and the duchess, weary of the appearance of power which she no longer possessed, asked and obtained from Philip her recall from the regency. Her presence had been some check on Alva's cruelty, and her departure was the signal for persecution more severe than ever.

Meanwhile the population of the northern provinces had taken up arms against the oppressor, and the Prince of Orange, and his brother Count Louis of Nassau, had levied an army in Germany for the purpose of rescuing their country from the tyranny of Alva, and on one occasion the count gained a victory over the Spanish forces sent to oppose him. This defeat exasperated the duke, and hastened the death of the unhappy Counts Egmont and Horn, who had been condemned on a charge of treason. Immediately after their execution, Alva proceeded against the two brothers, and this time succeeded in repelling them, and at length in reducing the province to submission. Emboldened by success, he proceeded to further arbitrary measures, burdening the inhabitants with taxes, for the support of the very army which had been to them such a scourge. These oppressions raised further rebellion, and afforded the Prince of Orange and Count Louis an opportunity of making another effort to restore the liberties of their country. Alva so far succeeded in repelling them once more; but it became evident to Philip that it was impossible to carry out the projects for which his chosen plenipotentiary had been sent; the duke was therefore recalled in 1573. He left the Netherlands with the boast that, during the six years of his vice-royalty, 18,000 persons had perished on the scaffold, besides the multitudes that had fallen before his troops in battle, or were murdered by them in cold blood. Soon after his return to Madrid, he lost the favour of Philip, because he defended his son, who had been guilty of seducing a lady of high rank at court. He was banished to his castle of Uzeda, where he remained an exile, till, in 1582, Philip required his services to lead the land forces in the invasion of Portugal. This trust he executed with great success, and in less than three months completely conquered that country. This was his last campaign, for he died in the same year at the age of seventy-four.—(Biog. Univ., U. K. Society's Biog. Dict, Schiller's Revolt of the Netherlands.)—J. B.  ALVARA´DO,, a captain who served under Cortes in Mexico, and after the conquest of that country joined the army of Pizzaro in Peru. He held for a time the superintendence of the new city of Truxillo, and afterwards led a force sent to reduce the Chachapoyas, among whom he founded the settlement of San Juan de la Frontera. During the unfortunate disputes between Almagro and Pizarro, he stood firm in defence of Pizarro; and we hear of his defeat and imprisonment, and of a remarkable escape which he effected from his prison in Cuzco to Lima. In many of the rebellions which occupy the history of Peru during that unhappy period, we find Alvarádo engaged in opposing the insurgents. The last record we have of him is of a defeat which he sustained near the Apurimac, when attempting to quell the rebellion led by Hernandez Giron.—J. B.  ALVARA´DO,, the most noted of the Alvarados, whose names appear so frequently in the annals of Spanish discovery and conquest in America during the sixteenth century, was born at Badajoz, in Estremadura. We first hear of him sailing with Gijalva in the exploring expedition sent by Velasquez, along the coast of America, and returning with the report of the districts visited, and bearing the first rumours of Montezuma, and the wealth of his Mexican empire. In 1519 he entered on a command under Hernan Cortes in his expedition for the subjugation of Mexico; and when Cortes left to meet the force which Velasquez had sent to dispossess him of his command, the charge of the conquered city and of the person of Montezuma was committed to Alvarádo. A rebellion broke out among the Mexicans during his command, but he was able to resist the insurgents till the victorious return of Cortes. In the disastrous retreat from the city after the death of Montezuma, Alvarádo held a position of great responsibility and danger, and did deeds of wonderful daring, showing at the same time great physical strength. He subsequently served in the conquest of Guatemala, and was appointed by Charles V. to the government of that province, to which the province of Honduras was added. He died in 1541.—J. B.  ALVARES, the favourite of John II., king of Castile, born in 1388, and named Peter at his baptism. For thirty years he maintained an absolute ascendancy over the king, and was master of the treasury. At length he fell into disgrace, and was beheaded at Valladolid.  ALVAREZ, several medical men of Spain and Portugal bore this name, namely:—., professor of medicine at Alcala and Valladolid.—, veterinary surgeon to Philip IV. and Charles II. of Spain.—, died at Santarem, in Portugal, in 1636.—, author of an unpublished work on the principles of medicine.— wrote on the treatment of pleurisy.—, professor of medicine at Salamanca.— wrote on the treatment of wounds.—, a commentator upon Galen and Hippocrates.—, employed by King Sebastian of Portugal to superintend the measures for checking a pestilence which ravaged the country in 1569.—J. W. S.  ALVAREZ, a distinguished Spanish sculptor of modern times, a native of Valencia and established at Rome. Although having enjoyed the highest patronage, he died very poor in 1830. The statue of "Adonis" is considered his masterpiece. He is believed to be nephew or son of Manuel.—R. M.  ALVAREZ,, a Portuguese jesuit, employed by the Inquisition to draw up a list of prohibited books. Died 1628. 