Antonio Manrique de Lara, 2nd Duke of Nájera

Antonio Manrique de Lara, 2nd Duke of Nájera (c. 1466 - 13 December 1535) was a Spanish noble and military leader, and Viceroy of Navarre between 1516 and 1521.

Antonio appointed the preacher Antonio de Medrano (also known as Francisco de Medrano) as his chaplain and even defended him publicly when he faced charges from the Inquisition in 1532. Francisco maintained a close connection to the court of Antonio Manrique de Lara. His bold and unconventional behavior often drew the attention of the Holy Office, leading to repeated clashes. Despite this, the Duke of Nájera consistently came to his defense during each dispute.

Appointed viceroy of Navarre by Cardinal Cisneros in 1516, he was ordered to pacify the newly conquered Kingdom. But he acted in such a brutal manner, that he became much hated by the Navarrese. When the son of the former King of Navarre, Henry II sent a large French/Navarrese army commanded by General André de Foix to reconquer his Kingdom, the Navarrese population supported them and in less than three weeks, all of Navarre was retaken.

Marriage and children

He married in 1503 with Juana Cardona Y Enriquez (died 1547), sister of Fernando Ramon Folch, 2nd Duke of Cardona. They had seven children : Juan Esteban (1504–1558), 3rd Duke of Nájera, knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece. Aldonza, no issue. Guiomar (died 1543), no issue. Juan Fernandéz (1508–1570), viceroy of Naples in 1558, had issue. Rodrigo, had issue. María, no issue. Bernardino (died 1591), Commendador de Herrera, had issue.