John of Austria

John of Austria
Don Juan de Austria, oil in canvas of 2nd half of the 16th century, probably by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, in the Museo del Prado, Madrid
Governor of the Spanish Netherlands
In office	1576 – 1578
Predecessor	Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga
Successor	Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Monarch	Philip II of Spain
Vicar of Spanish Italy (extraordinary position)
In office	c. 1575
Predecessor	Office established
Successor	Office dissolved
Monarch	Philip II of Spain
Born	24 February 1547 Regensburg, Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany)
Died	1 October 1578(1578-10-01) (aged 31) Bouge, near Namur, Spanish Netherlands (present-day Belgium)
Burial	24 May 1579 Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
Issue	See detail
House	Habsburg
Father	Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Barbara Blomberg
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Spanish Empire Holy League (1571–1573)
Branch/service	Spanish Navy Spanish Army
Years of service	1568–1578
Rank	Captain general (Spanish Empire) Generalissimo (Holy League)
Commands	Mediterranean galley fleet Army of the Kingdom of Granada Holy League forces Army of Flanders
Battles/wars	See list War against Barbary pirates Second rebellion of the Alpujarras Capture of Güéjar Siege of Galera Battle of Serón Capture of Tíjola Battle of Padules Ottoman–Habsburg wars Battle of Lepanto Siege of Navarino Tunis expedition Eighty Years' War Capture of Namur Battle of Gembloux Siege of Nivelles Siege of Philippeville Battle of Rijmenam

Don John of Austria (Spanish: Juan de Austria, German: Johann von Österreich; 24 February 1547 – 1 October 1578) was the illegitimate son of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V met his son only once, recognizing him in a codicil to his will. John became a military leader in the service of his half-brother, King Philip II of Spain, Charles V's heir, and is best known for his role as the admiral of the Holy League fleet at the Battle of Lepanto.