Pedro de Deza

Pedro de Deza was born in Seville on 26 March 1520, the son of Antonio de Deza and Beatriz de Portugal.[1] He was the nephew of Diego Deza, Archbishop of Seville and Grand Inquisitor of Spain.[1]

He studied Latin under Juan Ulloa Pereira before attending the Colegio Viejo de San Bartolomé at the University of Salamanca, where he studied law.[1] After completing his studies, he became a professor of law at the Colegio Viejo de San Bartolomé.[1]

He spent eight years as the vicar general of the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela.[1] In 1556, he became an oidor in the Royal Audiencia and Chancillería of Valladolid.[1] During the pontificate of Pope Paul IV (1555–59), he served as Archdeacon of Calatrava la Vieja.[1] He was also an auditor of the Spanish Inquisition.[1] In 1556, he became the president of the Kingdom of Granada, in which capacity he participated in the suppression of the Morisco Revolt of 1568–71.[1] He became president of the Council of Valladolid in 1578.[1]

On the recommendation of Philip II of Spain, Pope Gregory XIII made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of 21 February 1578.[1] He received the red hat and the titular church of San Ciriaco alle Terme Diocleziane on 22 June 1580.[1] He resided in Rome from 1580 on.[1] On 9 January 1584 he opted for the titular church of Santa Prisca.[1]

He participated in the papal conclave of 1585 that elected Pope Sixtus V.[1] The new pope named him inquisitor general of the Roman Inquisition on 19 November 1586.[1] On 20 April 1587 he opted for the titular church of Saint Jerome of the Croats.[1] In 1590, he participated in both the first papal conclave of 1590 that elected Pope Urban VII, and in the second papal conclave of 1590 that elected Pope Gregory XIV.[1] He went on to participate in the papal conclave of 1591 that elected Pope Innocent IX, and the papal conclave of 1592 that elected Pope Clement VIII.[1]

On 18 August 1597 he opted for the titular church of San Lorenzo in Lucina.[1] He became cardinal protopriest on 30 March 1598.[1] He also served as the cardinal protector of Spain.[1]

On 24 April 1600 he opted for the order of cardinal bishops, taking the suburbicarian see of Albano.[1] He was consecrated as a bishop by Pope Clement VIII in St. Peter's Basilica on 18 June 1600.[1]

He died in Rome on 27 August 1600.[1] He was initially buried in San Lorenzo in Lucina.[1] Later, according to the terms of his will, his remains were transferred provisionally to the hermitage of Villaguer in Toro, Zamora.[1] Finally, he was buried in the convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Toro.[1]