Duke of Alva

Duke of Alva (1507-1582), Spanish general notorious for his cruelty in repressing the Dutch revolt against Spain. Alva rose to prominence as commander of the armies of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V . He gained a brilliant victory for Charles over Elector John Frederick of Saxony at Mühlberg in 1547. In Charles's Italian campaign against the French and papal forces, Alva overran the Papal States, but after the abdication of Charles V, Philip II of Spain relinquished them. Alva was appointed captain general of the Netherlands in 1567, with authority to repress the Dutch revolt against Spain. He set up a tribunal, known as the Council of Blood, which condemned and executed some 18,000 people and confiscated their property. Among the victims was the Flemish statesman Lamoral Egmont. Alva's troops defeated the Flemish forces and, on December 22, 1568, entered Brussels. His tyranny intensified Dutch resistance, and he was recalled in 1573. In 1580 Philip dispatched Alva to conquer Portugal, a task he accomplished with characteristic cruelty.