Don de la insolencia
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Description
Don Juan de Tassis, Count of Villamediana, was the quintessential Spanish nobleman of the Renaissance—brilliant, daring, charismatic, and deeply immoral, as Gregorio Marañón once put it. A knight among knights, poet among poets, and gambler among gamblers, his legend spread from Flanders to Rome and from Naples to Paris. Known for his eloquence and seduction, he was as skilled on horseback as he was merciless in the bullring. Villamediana lived boldly and dangerously: admired by poets for his sonnets, feared by politicians for his biting satires, and irresistible to noblewomen for his gallantry. Yet his defiance eventually provoked the wrath of kings—banished by Philip III, and possibly murdered under Philip IV’s watch in a sensational crime that shocked all of Europe.
Was it his scathing verse, a rumored affair with Queen Isabel of Bourbon, or darker intrigues that led to his violent end on Madrid’s Calle Mayor? While the full truth remains elusive, one thing is clear: Villamediana was one of the most enigmatic and influential figures of Spain’s Golden Age. Don de la insolencia brings his story to life through a compelling blend of biography, literary analysis, and a selection of his poems—an essential tribute to a man whose myth has long overshadowed his art. Published by Ediciones Siruela with the support of Fundación IE.
Carlos Aganzo is a prolific Spanish poet, writer, and journalist, currently serving as Director of Institutional Relations at El Norte de Castilla and heading the Vocento Foundation. A graduate in Journalism from the Complutense University of Madrid, he moved through roles such as literary critic, jazz chronicler, and deputy director at the newspaper Ya, later leading various publications including El Norte de Castilla and Diario de Ávila . His extensive literary output comprises over a dozen poetry collections—such as Ese lado violeta de las cosas, Las flautas de los bárbaros, and En la región de Nod—and numerous travel and biographical essays, earning acclaim with awards like the Jorge Guillén, Jaime Gil de Biedma, and the prestigious National de las Letras Teresa de Ávila in 2012. A founding member of the Poetry Academy San Juan de la Cruz and organizer of regional literary prizes, his work bridges lyricism with journalism, deeply engaging with cultural heritage and spirituality.