John of Austria, Don (1547-1578)

Spanish soldier, the illegitimate son of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He defeated the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

John captured Tunis in 1573 but quickly lost it. He was appointed governor general of the Netherlands in 1576 but discovered that real power lay in the hands of William of Orange. John withdrew in 1577 and then attacked and defeated the patriot army at Gemblours on 31 January 1578 with the support of reinforcements from Philip II of Spain. Lack of money stopped him from going any farther. He died of fever.