Spanish courtier and author. Born c. 1490, died 1541.
Valdés belonged to the circle of Spanish intelligentsia that wanted to reform the Catholic Church in the direction proposed by Erasmus of Rotterdam.
Although he wrote many works, almost exclusively on the subject of religion, only one was published during his lifetime, Diálogo de doctrina cristiana ("Dialogue on Christian doctrine", 1529). The ideas presented in this dialogue resulted in an inquisition being held over Valdés, which caused him to leave Spain.
Emperor Charles V provided Valdés with employment as an archivist in Naples, and during his residence there, he wrote a number of works, published posthumously. Among these is an introduction to the Catalan language, Diálogo de la lengua (published 1737).