Pedro Hernández (knight)

Pedro Hernandez (15th century - before 1499), also known as Ninjo Vaguè, was a Spanish knight. He served the feudal lord Frederick of Aragon, who later became king of Naples. He served Frederick of Aragon and his half-sister Joanna IV of Aragon in the city of Altamura, where he had a son, Vito Ninovagio, progenitor of the Ninivaggi family. The surname Ninivaggi is now widespread in Italy and worldwide (especially in the United States of America).
Life
Pedro Hernàndez was a Spanish knight who served the feudal lord Frederick of Aragon stationing in the city of Altamura. He probably came to Altamura for the first time in 1494; later he served Frederick's half-sister, Joanna IV of Aragon, who would become Altamura's feudal lord in 1495, thus replace her half-brother who had become king of Naples.
In a letter dated November 1497 sent by the archpriest of Altamura, Mons. Francesco Rossi, the feudal lord Joanna IV of Aragon was asked to provide that the Sapinsh knight "Pedro Ninovagio" recognized a son he had in Altamura around 1496 with an Altamuran girl called Giovanna and which was given the name of Vito Ninovagio. The feudal lord replied to this letter with a letter dated April 1498 in which she affirmed that she could not proceed with what was requested as there was no Pedro Ninovagio among her knights.
In a subsequent letter dated July 1498 sent by the same archpriest to the feudal lord, further details were provided about the aforementioned knight, and in particular the details of his banner as well as his physical characteristics. This knight was "of short stature, valiant and very dedicated to mocking other knights, from whom he used to be called "Nino Vagio", and the knight himself said to the Altamuran girl named Giovanna" that his name was "Nino Vagio".
In November 1498, Joanna IV of Aragon from Naples replied to this last letter coming from the archpriest; having recognized the knight's identity, it was communicated that Pedro Hernández had not returned to Altamura and had not honored "his commitment to the young girl Giovanna" because he had died in a battle near the city of Lagopesole, in today's Basilicata.
The Spanish pseudonym "Ninjo Vaguè" allegedly refers to the physical and behavioral characteristics of the knight. In particular niño refers to his stature, while vague in this context means "joke". Translated into English, the above pseudonym's meaning would be "little joker".<ref name="Ninivaggi_A"/>
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