Rodrigo Ponce de Leon, Duke of Cádiz (1443– 27 August 1492), 3rd Count of Arcos, 1st Marquis of Zahara, was one of the Castilian military leaders in the conquest of Granada (1482-1492).
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Biography
He was the second son of Juan Ponce de León, 2nd Count of Arcos, and his second wife, Leonor Núñez. Young Rodrigo’s life changed drastically following the death of his older brother, Pedro, in 1459, an event that made him the heir to the family estate.
From his early youth, Rodrigo became a key support to his father in managing the family estates and defending the frontier. In 1462, he distinguished himself for the first time, by leading of the Count’s forces at the Battle of Madroño, near Teba, where he routed a major raiding party commanded by the Granadan prince Muley Hacen. Rodrigo, gaining his first combat experience, fought with great valor and resolve, sustaining a severe arm wound in the process.
In 1462, he played an important role in the Conquest of Gibraltar.
In 1465, he supported Alfonso, Prince of Asturias in his rebellion against King Henry IV of Castile, and he seized Cádiz, which he subsequently governed as his personal property. In the War of the Castilian Succession (1475-1479), he first supported Joanna la Beltraneja, but after a series of defeats, he submitted to Isabella and Ferdinand, and recognized Isabel as Queen of Castile.