Luis Méndez de Haro

Who was Luis Méndez de Haro?

Luis Méndez de Haro, 6th Marquis of Carpio, Grandee of Spain, was a Spanish nobleman, political figure and general.

He was the son of don Diego de Haro, marquis of Carpio, and of doña Francisca de Guzmán, sister of count Olivares.

He made a career at the Spanish court under protection of his uncle, whom he succeeded as valido or favourite in the king's confidence when Olivares was driven from office in 1643. He never achieved the same influence and control as his uncle, mainly because Philip IV also relied on Sister María de Ágreda. She convinced the king to abolish the function of valido.

Luis de Haro was the main Spanish negotiator of the Treaty of the Pyrenees on Pheasant Island in 1659. He did not succeed in avoiding a negative result, nor did he reach an anti-French alliance with Oliver Cromwell. The treaty was accompanied by a marriage between Louis XIV of France and Maria Theresa of Spain. Luis de Haro played the part of the bridegroom in the proxy marriage that took place at Fuenterrabia on June 3, 1660.