Juan di Torralba

Juan di Torralba was a successful Spanish merchant and moneylender who flourished in the first half of the 15th century.

Juan practiced trade, first in Barcelona, and later, between 1428 and 1435, at the head of an international trading company. In 1438, after he acquired a large Genoese ship with a cargo of 1,200 barrels, he became active as ship-owner as well. His son-in-law and prominent nobleman, Juan Sabastida, was put in the command of the ship. Business success enabled him to rise in social circles, and he was appointed on high posts in the royal administration in Barcelona.

Capital that he achieved in trade, he decided to employ in moneylending activities. In 1431 he participated in a loan made to King Alfonso V, the future Alfonso I of Naples. He also invested in bonds funding the public debt and acquired rights to revenues from public and ecclesiastical holdings, and became active in banking business. After 1400, he became the owner of at least five buildings in Barcelona.

After his death, his business vision was abandoned. His son-in-law, Sabastida withdrew from trading activities and retired to his ancestral lands.