Pedro Álvarez de Soutomaior (c. 1430– 1486), known by the sobriquet Pedro Madruga, was a Galician nobleman and knight. He was a notable figure in Galicia where he exerted certain influence in the Portuguese court, as well as spending time in that of Castile. He was one of the leading lords who suppressed the Irmandiño peasant revolts in the 1460s, and also fought in favor of the Portuguese-backed claimant to the Castilian throne, Joanna la Beltraneja, in the War of the Castilian Succession.
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Family
Pedro was the illegitimate son of Fernán Eanes de Soutomaior; his mother has never been identified for certain. When Fernán died, his estates passed to his legitimate son, Alvaro. However, Alvaro died whilst still unmarried, and although the next legal heir was Alvaro's aunt, provision was made with her agreement to allow Pedro to inherit the estates instead. He was subsequently legitimised by the sovereigns of Castile and Portugal, and became Don Pedro Álvarez de Soutomaior. He married Teresa de Távora, who came from a noble Portuguese family. His children included Cristóbal de Soutomaior, who would sail with Diego Columbus (eldest son of Christopher Columbus) to the West Indies. Cristóbal would become governor of Puerto Rico.