Fernando de Las Infantas (1534-c.1610) thanks his surname to the conveyance of the two daughters of king Pedro I of Castile (also called the Cruel or the Just; which are interesting epithets indeed) by his father, Juan Fernández de Córdoba after the battle of Montiel in 1469. As a son of an influential family Fernando was given a privileged education, even later, when he moved to Rome, he got stipends from his family in Spain. In 1577 he came into conflict with Pope Gregory XIII and the composers Palestrina and Annibale Zoilo over a musical issue originating from the Tridentine Council. Even the Spanish ambassador intervened in this matter with the Pope.
In 1584 Infantas took holy orders and moved to a small church in the outskirts of Rome. He returned to Spain in 1608 and died a few years later. Fernando de Las Infantas wrote several books with Sacræ Cantiones (Motets) for 4, 5 and 6 voices.
Cees Wagemakers, 2018