Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, known during his lifetime as Ximenes de Cisneros O.F.M., was a Spanish statesman under the Catholic Monarchs and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in 1436 in Torrelaguna and died on 8 November 1517 in Roa.

He became Archbishop of Toledo in 1495, cardinal in 1507, Grand Inquisitor in 1507, and regent of the king in 1516. Cisneros entered the Franciscan Order and led an ascetic life. His devotion drew the attention of Queen Isabel, who in 1492 appointed him as her confessor, succeeding Hernando de Talavera. Later he became Archbishop of Toledo, which gave him the opportunity to implement reforms within the Spanish clergy, focusing on discipline and moral conduct.

He played a crucial role in the Spanish Inquisition and was involved in the forced conversion of the Moors in Spain. In addition, he was a strong advocate of education. He founded the University of Alcalá de Henares and was the driving force behind the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, a milestone in biblical scholarship.

Cisneros served twice as regent of Spain, demonstrating his exceptional political insight. Upon his death in 1517, he left behind a lasting legacy of religious and educational reforms.