Blackwell Reference Online

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Juan de Padilla was an important military leader in the Comunero Revolt (1520–1) in Castile. He was born in 1490 to a prominent hidalgo (lower nobility) family in the city of Toledo. By the late 1510s Padilla was disgruntled, feeling slighted after the new king passed him over for public office. In 1519 he used his position on the city council of Toledo to rally opposition to Charles V's policies and to initiate a petition among the cities demanding that Charles not leave Spain or appoint foreigners to public offices, or use Castilian revenues in his bid to become Holy Roman Emperor. In April 1520 Padilla and his supporters seized control of Toledo, proclaiming a Comunidad (autonomous city). In June the city of Toledo convened a Cortes (parliament) and most cities slowly rallied to the Comunero cause, except for those in the south, while many nobles were initially ambivalent. In August 1520 Juan de Padilla secured Tordesillas, residence of Queen Juana (Charles's mother), and assembled a junta to govern Castile in her name. In a political move to bind the nobility to the movement, the junta removed Padilla from military command and appointed the nobleman Pedro Girón captain-general in October. This move offended Padilla, who returned to Toledo with his troops. It also marked a turning point in the movement, which gradually began to splinter between moderate and radical elements. ... log in or subscribe to read full text