Noble and notable Castilian military leader born in Piedrahita, province of Avila, Spain, whose intense and historic military activity was associated with an image of cruelty and intolerance religious. It distinguished itself at the site of Fuenterrabía (1524), where the Spanish defeated the French, defeated the German princes of the Schmalkalden League (1546-1547). His victory at Mühlberg brought Emperor Charles V to the height of his power. He was appointed commander of the imperial forces in Italy (1552) and, after the succession of Philip II of Spain, became viceroy of Naples (1556).
Sent (1556) to the Netherlands, in command of an army of ten thousand men, in order to punish the rebels and root out heresy, he defeated the Geuzen, Calvinist guerrillas. Dutch (1572), and repelled the invasions commanded by Luís de Nassau, whom he defeated at Heminger (1568), and by Prince William of Orange, whom he expelled from Brabant (1568). Limited by lack of resources, he was unable to retake all the occupied territories to the Geuzen and, denounced for acting with extreme cruelty, was called to Spain (1573), but (1580) he commanded the victorious invasion of Portugal and Philip II named him Constable of Portugal and granted him the Order of the Fleece of Gold. He died in Lisbon on December 11 (1582), precisely two years after being named Constable of Portuguese nation, as an example of the values of the old Castilian nobility, proud and haughty, but loyal to crown.
Source: http://www.dec.ufcg.edu.br/biografias/
Order F - Biography - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biografia/fernando-alvarez-toledo-y-pimentel.htm
