Calle del Cardenal Cisneros

Before bearing a cardinal’s name, this street was called Charcas de Mena, after some pools of water that gathered on the open ground over which Chamberí was growing. In 1880 the town hall traded the puddle for glory and dedicated the street to Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros. Born in Torrelaguna in 1436, he entered the Franciscan order late in life. From confessor to Isabella the Catholic he rose to archbishop of Toledo, cardinal and inquisitor general. He governed Castile as regent twice, first after the death of Philip the Handsome and then while the young Charles made his way from Flanders, which earned him the nickname “the third king”. He founded the University of Alcalá de Henares and promoted the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, printed in Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. He died in Roa on his way to greet the king he never lived to see reign.