GONZALVO DI CORDOVA (G. Hernandez y Aguilar), a celebrated Spanish warrior, was b. at Montilla near Cordova, in 1453.• Ile•served with great distinction first in the war with the Moors of Granada, and afterwards in the Portuguese campaign. At the close of the final contest with Granada, he concluded the negotiation with Boabdil (Abu Abdallali), king of the Moors, in such a masterly manner, that the rulers of Spain bestowed upon him a pension and a large estate in the conquered territory. He was next sent to the assistance of Ferdinand, king of Naples, against the French. In less than a year, Gonzalvo, with his limited resources, had conquered the greater part of the kingdom, and obtained the appellation of "El Gran Capitano." In conjunction with king Ferdinand, lie succeeded in completely expelling the French from Italy; and in Aug., 1498, returned to Spain, having received in return for his valuable services an • estate in the Abruzzi, with the .title of duke of ,San Angelo. Wheli, the partition of the kingdom of Naples was determined upon by a compact entered into at Granada, Nov. 11, 1500, Gonzalvo again set out for Italy, with a body of 4,300 men, and on the way took Zante and Zephalonia from the Turks, and restored them to the Venetians. He then landed in Sicily, occupied Naples and Calabria, and demanded from the French that, in compliance with the compact, they should yield up Capitanata and Basilicata.
This demand being rejected, a war broke out between the two belligerent powers, which was waged with varied success. After the victory of Cerignola, in April, 1503, Gon zalvo took possession of Calabria, Abruzzo, Apulia, even the city of Naples itself, and then laid siege to Gaeta, but was forced to retreat before a superior force of the enemy. On Dec. 29 of the same year. however, he fell upon them unexpectedly near the Garig liano, and obtained a complete victory, Dec. 29, 1503. The French army was almost annihilated; the fortress of Gaeta fell; and the possession of Naples was secured to the Spaniards. King Ferdinand bestowed the duchy of Sesa upon the conqueror, and appointed him viceroy of Naples, with unlimited authority. His good-fortuue, however, made him many powerful enemies; and Gonzalvo was recalled 'to Spain, where the king treated him with marked neglect. Gonzalvo now betook himself to his estates in Gra nada; but after the defeat of the new viceroy in Naples by Gaston de Foix, he was again appointed to the command of the Spanish:Italian army. Mental suffering, how ever, had undermined the old hero's health, and on Dee. 2, 1515, he died at Granada.