Ayala

Ayala, PEDRO LOPEZ DE (El Viejo), was born at Murcia in 1332, of one of the first Castilian families. A brave soldier and able statesman, he filled some of the leading offices under several kings of Castile, and died in 1407. But Ayala's truest title to fame is his Cronicas de los Reyes de Castilla (best ed. 1780), which contains the history of Castile from the middle to the end of the 14th century. His Rimado de Palacio, begun during his captivity in England (1367), is a didactic and satirical poem of some value.—ADELARDO LOPEZ DE AYALA (1829-79) was likewise a poet and statesman.