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Diego de Covarrubias y Leiva (1512-1577) was the elder brother of Antonio de Covarrubias, a close friend of El Greco and reputedly one of the most learned men of his time. Diego was a distinguished churchman, canon lawyer and administrator. Professor of canon law in the University of Salamanca, in 1560 he was charged by Philip II with the reorganisation of the university's curriculum. Consecrated bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1559, he was appointed together with his brother Antonio, to the Spanish delegation that attended the last session of the Council of Trent in 1563. He collaborated with Ugo Buoncampagni, the future Gregory XIII, in drafting some of the final decrees of the Council, and shortly after his return to Spain he was made bishop of Segovia. In 1572 he was appointed President of the Council of Castile, the most important administrative office in the kingdom.
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