Alfonso de la Cerda (bishop)

Alfonso de la Cerda (died 1369) was a Spanish nobleman and prelate who served as Bishop of Osma from 1322 to 1329 and Bishop of Jaén from 1329 until his death in 1369. He belonged to the House of La Cerda, being a descendant of King Alfonso X of Castile.

Alfonso de la Cerda was the son of Fernando de la Cerda and Juana Núñez de Lara. His family held significant influence within the Castilian aristocracy, and his ecclesiastical career was likely facilitated by these connections. As Bishop of Osma, he would have been responsible for the administration of the diocese, including its religious affairs, finances, and temporal possessions.

His transfer to the Bishopric of Jaén in 1329 marked a step up in prestige and influence. The Bishop of Jaén held a strategically important position, given the proximity of the diocese to the border with the Emirate of Granada during the Reconquista. Alfonso de la Cerda likely played a role in both the spiritual and political affairs of the region during this period of ongoing conflict. His long tenure as Bishop of Jaén, lasting forty years, suggests he was a capable and influential figure within the church hierarchy and the kingdom of Castile. There are limited sources directly detailing his specific actions and contributions during his episcopate, however, his lineage and prolonged tenure suggest a noteworthy presence in the religious and political landscape of 14th century Castile.