LEON, LUIS PONCE DE (1527-1591), Spanish poet and mystic, was born at Belmonte de Cuenca, entered the University of Salamanca at the age of 14, and in joined the Augustinian order. In 1561 he obtained a theological chair at Salamanca, to which in 1571 was added that of sacred literature. He was denounced to the Inquisition for translating the book of Canticles, and for criticizing the text of the Vulgate. He was consequently imprisoned at Valladolid from March 1572 till Dec. 1576; but he was released with an admonition. He returned to Salamanca as professor of Biblical exegesis, and was again reported to the Inquisition in 1582, but without result. In 1583-85 he published the three books of his mystic treatise, Los Nombres de Cristo, written in prison. La Perfecta Casada (1583) is a treatise for the use of a lady newly married. Ten days before his death, at Madrigal (Aug. 23, 1591), he was elected vicar general of the
Augustinian order. Luis de Leon is the greatest of Spanish mys tics, and is counted among the greatest of Spanish lyrical poets. His poems were not issued till 1631, when Quevedo published them as a counterblast to culteranismo.
The best edition of Luis de Leon's works is that of Merino (6 vols., 1816) ; the reprint (1885) by C. Munoz Saenz is incorrect. The text of La Perfecta Casada has been well edited by Miss Elizabeth Wallace (Chicago, 1903). See Coleccion de documentos ineditos Para la historia de Espana, vols. x.—xi. ; F. H. Reusch, Luis de Leon and die spanische Inquisition (Bonn, 1873) ; M. Gutierrez, Fray Luis de Leon y la filosofia espatiola (1885) ; M. Menendez y Pelayo, Estudios de critics literaria (1893), Primera serie, pp. 1-72.