Juan de Aragón (archbishop)

For other people of the same name, see John of Aragon.

Juan de Aragón (?, 1439/1440 - Albalate de Cinca, November 19, 1475) was a Spanish ecclesiastical and military bastard son of Juan II of Aragon. His mother could be a noble of the lineage of the Avellaneda (according to his biographer, Gonzalo García de Santa María, author of manuscripts such as Aragoniae regum historia, more than 992 of the Library of Catalonia, and Joannis Secundi Aragonum regis vita, ms 9571 of the National Library) or perhaps it could be of the Navarrese family of the Ansa.

Juan de Aragón was the first of the archbishops of Zaragoza belonging to the Aragonese royal family who wanted to secure control of the archdiocese by means of real bastards. He held the position of archbishop from June 20, 1458 when he was about 18 years old, until his death when he was about 36. However, he did not receive the ordination, so he delegated the address of the headquarters to bishops or vicars.

From that position as head of the headquarters of Zaragoza, he collaborated with his father King Juan II, who assigned important positions of responsibility, such as Lieutenant General of the Kingdom of Aragon. He also supported his father against his brothers Carlos and Blanca in the Civil War of Navarre. He also supported his father in the Catalan Civil War, where he was able to demonstrate his true military leanings.

He died at the age of 36 in Albalate de Cinca and was buried in a beautiful tomb on the wall of the Gospel of the Cathedral of Zaragoza.

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