Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas

Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas (20 April 1546 – 7 December 1618) was a Spanish bishop and cardinal who was Grand Inquisitor of Spain from 1608 to 1618. Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas was born in Aranda de Duero on 20 April 1546, the son of Hernando de Rojas y Sandoval and Maria Chacon Guevara. He was the second oldest of nine siblings. He was the uncle of Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma. His uncle, Cristóbal de Rojas y Sandoval, Bishop of Oviedo granted him the tonsure on 13 November 1555. He attended the University of Alcalá, where he studied under Ambrosio Morales and received his bachillerato on 18 June 1566; his licentiate on 25 October 1567 and a doctorate in arts on 3 November 1567. He became a canon of Seville Cathedral on 4 June 1574. His uncle, now Archbishop of Seville, made him subdeacon of El Escorial on 5 June 1576. During this period, he also attended the University of Salamanca, receiving a licentiate in theology on 24 July 1576.