Ovid. Mena was the first translator of the Iliad into Span-
ish (1519) from a medieval prose version in Latin.
Mendes, Gracia (Gracia Hannah Nasi) (1510–1569)
Sephardic Jewish philanthropist and patron
Born in Lisbon at a time of enforced conversion of Por-
tuguese JEWS, she was given the Christian name Beatrice
de Luna, keeping her Jewish faith secret. She married a
wealthy banker, merchant, and gem dealer, Francisco
Mendes. After his death (1534) she ran his business affairs
with his brother, Diogo. During the Inquisition she mas-
terminded an underground network assisting Jews to flee
Portugal and settle in areas under Ottoman rule. In 1536,
she too had to flee, taking her business empire with her,
first to Antwerp, then Venice, and later Ferrara, where she
was at last able to live openly as a Jew. In 1553 she settled
in Constantinople, where she used her wealth to endow
Jewish yeshivas and synagogues as far afield as Palestine
and to fund the printing of Jewish sacred texts. Her last,
most visionary project was the purchase of the ancient
holy city of Tiberias from the sultan. Under the supervi-
sion of her son-in-law, Joseph, duke of Naxos, she hoped
to rebuild it as a city-state for Jewish refugees, but the pro-
ject failed due to intervention from the papacy.
Mendoza, Antonio de (1490–1552) Spanish soldier and
colonial administrator
Mendoza’s military experience against the Moors and
diplomatic mission to Hungary fitted him for appointment
as viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) in 1535. His wise and
energetic policies laid the basis for Spanish rule in Mexico
that lasted until the 19th century. He developed mining,
industry, agriculture, and communications, backed CORO-
NADO’s expedition to New Mexico, promoted exploration
in California and the Philippines, and encouraged the
Catholic Church to convert and protect the native Ameri-
cans. In 1551 he was appointed viceroy of Peru, but died
shortly after arriving in Lima.
Mendoza, Diego de Hurtado de See HURTADO DE MEN-
DOZA, DIEGO DE
Mendoza, Íñigo López de, Marqués de Santillana
See SANTILLANA, ÍÑIGO LÓPEZ DE MENDOZA, MARQUÉS DE
Mendoza, Pedro González de (1428–1495) Spanish
churchman, soldier, and statesman
As bishop of Calahorra from 1452 he successfully inter-
vened in the Castilian civil wars of the mid-15th century.
From being bishop of Siguenza (1468), he progressed to
being cardinal, archbishop of Seville, and chancellor of
Castile (1473). Supporting the claim of Princess Isabella
to the Castilian crown at the battle of Toro (1476), he was
instrumental in placing her on the throne (see FERDINAND
II AND ISABELLA I). Made archbishop of Toledo (1482), “the
Great Cardinal” played a prominent role in the conquest
of Granada (1492), both militarily and financially.Mennonites Followers of the Dutch Protestant leader
Menno Simons (1496–1561). Simons, a native of Fries-
land, was ordained priest in 1524 but soon fell under the
influence of Luther’s teachings on the Bible and Eucharist.
Finding himself unable to accept the doctrine of infant
baptism, he renounced the priesthood in 1536 and joined
the ANABAPTISTS, at that time a small, vilified sect perse-
cuted with equal zeal by Catholics and Protestants. For
the next 25 years, often at great personal risk, Menno trav-
eled among the scattered Anabaptist congregations of
northeast Europe, striving to lift their morale and to con-
solidate their doctrine and organization. He also led his
followers away from the revolutionary extremism of
Thomas Müntzer (see PEASANTS’ REVOLT) and other early
Anabaptists.
During this time, the Mennonites (as they came to be
known) developed a clear identity. In doctrine, they were
distinguished by their rejection of infant baptism and the
REAL PRESENCE; in organization, by a “connectionist”
structure in which each congregation was permitted con-
siderable autonomy. In both respects the Mennonites
would have a direct influence on Britain’s emerging Baptist
movement in the early 1600s. More distinctive still, how-
ever, was their social and ethical teaching; members were
forbidden to serve in the military, to take oaths, or to hold
any position of secular authority.
After Menno’s death, the movement developed in two
quite different directions. From 1574 the Mennonites
were no longer persecuted in the Netherlands and the
large community there became increasingly prosperous,
liberal, and influential, with a developing interest in edu-
cation and social questions. However, the experience of
the congregations in Switzerland and some other parts of
Europe, where persecutions continued, was quite differ-
ent. Here the Mennonites withdrew into closed agricul-
tural communities and cut themselves off from secular
ways (the Amish community of North America is an off-
shoot of the Swiss Mennonites). Persecution also encour-
aged wholesale emigration to the New World and
elsewhere, so that the largest numbers of Mennonites are
now to be found in the United States and Canada.“Mentzer, Der” See FISCHART, JOHANNMerbecke, John (c. 1508–c. 1585) English composer and
writer
In 1531 Merbecke was employed at St. George’s Chapel,
Windsor, as clerk and organist. In 1543 he was con-
demned to death for his Calvinist views but was reprieved
by HENRY VIII. His concordance of the English Bible, the
first complete edition, was published in 1550. After Ed-
ward VI’s accession, Merbecke compiled his Booke of Com-MMeerrbbeecckkee,, JJoohhnn 331133