icae (1418), and translated into Latin PLUTARCH’s treatise
on education.
Guas, Juan (died 1496) Spanish architect and sculptor
A Frenchman in origin, Guas may have trained in Brussels
before emigrating to Spain in the 1450s. He was master of
works at the cathedrals of Segovia (1473–91) and Toledo
(1483–95) and in his capacity as architect to Queen Is-
abella designed one of the foremost monuments in the
Gothic-plateresque idiom, the monastery of San Juan de
los Reyes (1479) at Toledo.
Guelfs and Ghibellines Rival Italian political factions
in the 13th and 14th centuries. The labels derived respec-
tively from the German Welf (a Bavarian family that com-
peted for the German throne against the Hohenstaufen in
the 12th and early 13th centuries) and Waiblingen (a Ho-
henstaufen castle). Originating as factional names in Flo-
rence, they were first widely used during Emperor
Frederick II’s conflict with the papacy (1227–50), when a
Guelf opposed the claims of the Hohenstaufen emperor to
authority in Italy and was sympathetic to the pope, while
a Ghibelline supported Frederick. Already, however, they
were also convenient tags for inter- or intra-city political
rivalries, and their original function was lost with the ex-
tinction of the direct Hohenstaufen line in 1268. The
Guelf label then became associated with French ambitions
and with political conservatism, while, in the early 14th
century, the VISCONTI FAMILYof Milan and DELLA SCALA
FAMILYof Verona emerged as the leading Ghibellines. The
last conflict in Italy between the empire and papacy, in the
reign of Louis of Bavaria (1324–47), temporarily revived
the original significance of the terms. Thereafter their im-
portance rapidly declined.
Guerrero, Francisco (1528–1599) Spanish composer
Born in Seville, Guerrero studied music with Luis de
MORALES. He sang at Seville cathedral (1542–46) until his
appointment as maestro de capilla at Jaén cathedral. In
1549 he returned to Seville as singer, then assistant mae-
stro, at the cathedral, becoming maestro de capilla there in
- In 1581 he was granted leave of absence to visit
Rome, and in 1588 went to the Holy Land. Many of his
works were published in France and Italy, and were per-
formed long after his death, especially in Latin America.
He wrote many secular songs with alternative sacred texts,
but is chiefly remembered for his sacred compositions. He
published Masses, requiems, motets, psalms, and Passions
in a flowing polyphonic style; they were much admired on
account of their complex canonic devices.
Guevara, Fray Antonio de (1480–1545) Spanish bishop,
courtier, and writer
From a prominent family, Guevara, who was born at Tre-
ceño, grew up at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella and
for a time was page to their son Don Juan (died 1497). He
became a Franciscan friar and left the court when Queen
Isabella died (1504), returning to serve as preacher and
chronicler under Charles V. He became bishop of Guadix
and finally of Mondoñedo in 1537.
Guevara was steeped in classical learning and partic-
ularly influenced by CICERO; his own style, however, was
extravagantly ornate, and his view of his material was me-
dieval: he missed no opportunity to include anecdotes, di-
gressions, and curious lore, often passing off fanciful lies
as truths. The Libro áureo de Marco Aurelio (Golden Book of
Marcus Aurelius; 1528) first published anonymously and
extremely popular in Spain and elsewhere (it was trans-
lated into English in 1532 by Lord Berners), is presented
as a series of letters addressed to the Roman emperor Mar-
cus Aurelius on the virtues of an ideal ruler. It was later in-
cluded in an enlarged, moralizing “mirror for princes”
work entitled Reloj de príncipes (1539; translated as
The Diall of Princes by Thomas NORTH, 1557). His Epísto-
las familiares (I, 1539; II, 1541) are 112 highly rhetori-
cal essays, mainly cast as letters to various eminent
people. Guevara’s rhetorical excesses and ability to in-
vent when it suited him were criticized even in his own
day. His other works include lives of some of the Roman
emperors, a handbook for courtiers, and a panegyric on
rural life.Guicciardini, Francesco (1483–1540) Italian historian
and statesman
A member of one of the most distinguished Florentine
families, Guicciardini became related to another (the
Salviati) by his marriage in 1508. He received a classical
education, studied law, and as ambassador to Spain (1511)
embarked on a long and active career that gave him an in-
timate knowledge of the political affairs of the period.
After the return of the Medici to power in Florence in
1512, Guicciardini was made a member of the signoria
(1515) and under Leo X was successively governor of
Modena, Reggio, and Parma (1516–19), during which
time he met and became a friend of MACHIAVELLI. Under
Clement VII, he served as president of Romagna (1524),
represented the pope in Florence (1530), and was gover-
nor of Bologna. After Clement’s death (1534), he acted as
adviser to Alessandro de’ Medici until his assassination
(1537) and then helped to secure the succession of
Cosimo (I) de’ Medici, who subsequently forced his re-
tirement from politics.
None of Guicciardini’s works was published in his
lifetime, a number were left unfinished, and only his
major Storia d’Italia (1561)—covering events from the
first French invasion to the death of Clement VII (i.e.
1494–1534)—appeared during the 16th century. It was
translated into English in 1579. His work represents an
important advance in historical scholarship, especially in
the scrupulously critical use of sources and in its psycho-222266 GGuuaass,, JJuuaann