Juan Esteban Manrique de Lara y Cardona

Juan Esteban Manrique de Lara y Cardona (Nájera?, 26 December 1504 – Valencia de Don Juan, 22 January 1558), 3rd Duke of Nájera was a Spanish nobleman, politician, and soldier.

Biography He was the son of Antonio Manrique de Lara, 2nd Duke of Nájera, and Juana de Cardona.

During the Revolt of the Comuneros (1520–1521), he remained loyal to King Charles I of Spain and participated in several military operations against the rebels. and Villalar.

In December 1529, the death of his father led to his succession as head of the lineage, and he became 3rd Duke of Nájera. During those years, he also served as warden of Davalillo Castle and treasurer general of Biscay. He accompanied the monarch to Italy, to the Conquest of Tunis (1535), and was present at the Cortes of Toledo in 1538–1539. He participated in the Italian War of 1542–1546 and the Guelders campaign in Flanders. In 1546, he was knighted into the Order of the Golden Fleece. At the end of that year, as the King's chamberlain, he accompanied the future Philip II on his trips to Flanders (1549) and England (1554). In 1556, in Valladolid, he received King Charles I and his sisters, the queens of France and Hungary.

He died on 22 January 1558, and his remains were laid to rest in the Ducal pantheon of Santa María la Real de Nájera.

Marriage and children He was betrothed in 1521 to his first cousin, Aldonza de Urrea y Cardona, daughter of Miguel Ximénez de Urrea de Híjar, Count of Aranda. All indications are that the marriage took place, but it was dissolved by papal decree in 1521, although a son, Juan Manrique de Lara y Urrea, was born of this union, who later unsuccessfully claimed the ducal throne as first-born.

In August 1529, Juan Esteban married in Toledo Luisa de Acuña y Manuel, 5th Countess of Valencia de Don Juan. She was the only daughter and heiress of Enrique de Acuña, 4th Count of Valencia de Don Juan, and Aldonza Manuel. This union, which was highly controversial—the Count even disinherited his daughter—produced two sons : Juan Esteban Manrique de Lara Acuña y Manuel (1533-1600), 4th Duke of Nájera, Viceroy of Valencia Enrique Manrique de Lara (1538-1574), commander in the Order of Santiago, married Inés Manrique, VI Countess of Paredes de Nava.

In addition, the duke had five illegitimate children.