Career
Early in his career as a soldier he fought under Henry IV of Castile against the Moors and then became attached to Ferdinand V of Castile. He participated in the campaign against Portugal (1475-1476) arising from the dispute over the succession to the throne of Castile, and he also played an important part in the eight-year campaign against the Moors in Granada, negotiating the surrender of that city in 1492. In 1495 Gonzalo went to Italy in command of the Spanish forces sent in support of Frederick II, King of Naples, against Charles VIII of France. He scored a succession of victories against Charles and reseated Frederick II on the throne of Naples, after which he returned to Spain. In 1501 he was again back in Italy to aid the Venetians in driving out the Turks under Amurat I. In the meantime Louis XII, successor to Charles VIII of France, had reconquered central Italy and had entered into an alliance with Ferdinand V of Spain, but shortly thereafter they quarreled and Gonzalo, returning from Venice, was besieged at Barletta by the French troops. He successfully quelled a mutiny within his own ranks and in 1503 broke the seige to attack the French depot of provisions at Cerignola. The French counterattacked but were defeated, and the following year Gonzalo scored a decisive victory at Garigliano, driving the French out of the kingdom of Naples. He remained as governor of Naples, in which capacity he was both popular and capable. Jealous enemies in Spain, however, turned Ferdinand against him and in 1507 he was recalled to Spain.