The New Student's Reference Work/Ximenes De Cisneros, Francisco

Ximenes (zĭ-mē' nēz) De Cisneros, Francisco, in Spain commonly called Cisneros, a well-known statesman, archbishop and cardinal, was born at Torrelaguna in Castile in 1436. His great reputation for piety and learning led Queen Isabella to choose him in 1492 for her confessor and three years after to appoint him archbishop of Toledo — a dignity which he refused to accept until he had received an express command from the pope. In 1507 he was promoted to the dignity of cardinal. During the lifetime of Isabella he was the guiding spirit in Spanish affairs; and on her death in 1504 he held the balance between the parties of Ferdinand and Philip of Burgundy, husband of Joanna, heiress of the crown. When Ferdinand died in 1516, he named Ximenes regent of Spain until the arrival of Charles his grandson; and, although the grandees formed a powerful combination against him, he was able to subdue them by his prompt and efficient measures and compelled them to submit to his authority. Scholars are indebted to him for the famous Complutensian edition (1502–18) of the Bible in several languages. He died at Roa on Nov. 8, 1517.