MANRIQUE, Gomez, Spanish poet and dramatist: b. about 1415; d. 1491. He was son of Pedro Lord of Amusco, and a younger brother of Rodrigo Manrique, master of San tiago and one of the troubadours of the court of John II. He became a soldier of some note and took part in wars against the Moors. He sided with the Infante, Don Enrique, against Alvaro de Luna and the royal court. He was very active and seems to have taken part in almost every political disturbance and warlike expedition of Spain in his day. He was very much mixed up in the political move which forced the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabel of Castile, which was of great significance since it ultimately led to the ex pulsion of the Moors from the country and the political and national unity of all Spain. He attained to numerous high offices under the king of Aragon and later under the united crowns of Castile and Aragon, becoming finally a member of the royal council and the confidant of the joint sovereigns. G6mez notwithstanding his tempestuous and warlike life, was one of the greatest orators of his age and a talented poet. He was one of the set of writers who sang the glories of the Virgin Mary and their love for and de votion to her. He was a satirist with a keen sense of humor, and he attempted nearly every class of literature known in his day in Spain.
He played his part in helping to introduce into Spanish poetry the poetical forms of Italian literature. He also wrote religious dramas in the form in which they appeared in his age. For this reason and for the fact that he intro duced more than customary life into these dra matic pieces, his work had considerable in fluence on the development of the drama, both religious and, subsequently, profane, in Spain.. The best of his religious dramas, all of which are of a liturgical caste, is del nacinfiento de Nuestro Senor.' He also wrote on political and philosophical subjects and on matters of ethics and vices such as gluttony, envy, laziness, and of virtues, such as reason (in human actions), faith, prudence and hon esty of purpose in government. His poem on the death of the Marques de Santillana became immensely popular and Gomez Manrique rose to be the most quoted writer and most recited lyrical poet of his day. His (Cmcionercd has been published several times and poems of G6mez Manrique have appeared in various other cancioneros. Consult Menendez y Pelayo, Marcelino, de poetas liricos castel lanos' (Vol. VI, Madrid 1886) ; Pas y Melia A. , A., 'Cancionero de G6mez (Madrid 1885); Rios, Amador de los, (Historia critics de la leteratura espafiola.)