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John of Austria was a Spanish soldier born in Germany in 1545, the son of Charles V. It was Philip II who, following his father's testamentary indication, recognized him as a member of the royal family and named him John of Austria. His determined military vocation led the king to put him in command of a squadron to combat the Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean (1568); He later demonstrated his military skills by directing the repression of the Moorish uprising in the kingdom of Granada (1569). That success allowed him to culminate his military career, by obtaining supreme command of the fleet of the Holy League formed by Spain, Venice and the Papacy against the Turks (1570); Faced with the defensive strategy advocated by his most prudent advisors, Don Juan of Austria imposed his criteria of searching for the Turkish fleet and sinking it, which he achieved in the battle of Lepanto (1571).
As could not be less, and as demonstrated by the portraits of the time, Don Juan of Austria had his own sword, a jineta sword with bronze finishes belongs to the so-called fallen arriace genets, used by the Benimerines during the Arab domination in Spain, and later adopted by the Christians due to their lightness and ease of use. It could have been won by don Juan from the Turks at Lepanto.
After the famous success in the Battle of Lepanto, the king sent him as governor to the Netherlands (1576), an enormously difficult position in which the Duke of Alba and Luis de Requeséns had already failed, unable to put an end to the Protestant rebellion. Don Juan of Austria soon understood the unviability of that project, while he failed day by day in his attempt to contain the rebellion in the Netherlands.
Don Juan of Austria is said to be a young man with an attractive physique and manner. Numerous love affairs are attributed to him. He was appreciated by his contemporaries, enjoying the friendship of his nephew Prince Charles. As victor of the Battle of Lepanto, he enjoyed a high reputation throughout Europe. He died of typhus contracted during a military campaign. In the following photograph we can see his tomb located in the royal pantheons of the Escorial Monastery in Madrid (Spain). He appears with another type of straight arriaz sword with very original guards and the sword sheathed. At his feet, also sculpted, a seated lion.
The popularity of this historical figure has transcended and today we can find his name Juan de Austria linked to the names of streets, avenues, walks, hotels, basketball clubs, schools, thirds of the legion, etc.
