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Fernando Villanueva and Armendaris | |
|---|---|
| 22ndGovernor of New Mexico | |
| In office 1665–1668 | |
| Preceded by | Juan Durán de Miranda |
| Succeeded by | Juan de Medrano y Mesía |
| Personal details | |
| Born | San Sebastián,Guipuzcoa,Basque Country,Spain |
| Died | May 17, 1679 Mexico City |
| Profession | Soldier, judge, mayor, administrator |
Fernando de Villanueva y Armendaris (died May 17, 1679) was a Spanish soldier, judge and politician who served as governor of SpanishNew Mexico between 1665 and 1668.
Fernando Villanueva y Armendaris was born in the early 17th century inSan Sebastián,Gipuzkoa. He was the son of Fernando de Villanueva y Armendaris and Clara de Irigoyen. In 1630 he was enlisted in theSpanish Royal Armada of Ocean Sea. In the army, he was earning a bonus of two goldescudos. In 1634, after joining the Army of Catalonia, in theCrown of Aragon, he was promoted to the rank ofalférez. As part of this army, Villanueva fought against the French Army in Leocata, Catalonia, in an attempt to protect it from the enemy siege. In April 1637, he joined the Spanish Royal Armada of the Indies, with whom he fought in the suppression of theAlgarve.
Later, he served as a soldier in thepresidio ofSt. Martin, rising to the rank oflieutenant and latersergeant major. On several occasions when went toPuerto Rico to collect supplies, Villanueva had to engage hostile forces. On another occasion, he destroyed the British fortifications of the island ofAnguilla.
On several occasions, Villanueva traveled through the islands of the Caribbean for recognition purposes. Once, he fought against the British in San Martin and, after the British defeat, Villanueva did business selling everything captured (the ship and the armaments) in the neighbouring Puerto Rico.[1]
Later,[when?] he left Saint Martin and traveled toNueva Vizcaya (the currentChihuahua andDurango,Mexico), where served on the lands of theTepehuán people, particularly in theGuanaceví mines andSan Pedro. In these places, Villanueva obtained the titles ofjusticia mayor andcapitán a guerra ("chief judge" and "war captain"). He managed to establish peace with the indigenous of the place, which allowed him to raise the tax known as the "Quinto Real". During his administration, Villanueva was faced with a revolt, which he managed to quell. After leaving the site, he joined the Armada de Barlovento.
In 1644 he fought in theThirty Years War. On September 14, 1647, Villanueva was appointed asAlcalde Mayor y Capitán de Guerra in other three places:Autlán, and the ports of Christmas and the Cape. Also, on August 25, 1653, Villanueva began to serve as captain of thepresidio of San Sebastian, Chiametla andAcaponeta, in the Kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya.
Later, on November 21, 1654, Villanueva traveled toChametla andAcaponeta with a troop of soldiers from San Sebastian to stop a war that the various indigenous tribes were waging against each other. On the other hand, the Jesuit priests warned Villanueva that theAmerindian were planning a revolt against the Spanish government. So, over the next two years, Villanueva researched the villas and managed to prevent the revolt.
On September 12, 1659, Villanueva was assigned as judge protector of several Indigenous peoples ofSaltillo, particularly of theGuachichiles andTlaxcala. He began his duties on November 15, 1659. While he was in charge, he fought against the Amerindians from border areas who wanted to invade the Guachichiles territory, and protected the Saltillo's royal warehouses. During the conflict, the troops of Villanueva caught numerous invaders, including some children. However, the children were used to make a pact with the rebels: they would be returned to them if the rebels left the territory. The pact was a success. After the peace was established, Villanueva delivered supplies and clothes to forty-five warriors captured in order to ensure the peace was accepted by the former invaders. After that, Villanueva let them go. Villanueva left office on December 1, 1661.[1]
On January 14, 1665, as a direct result of his service as a judge protector of Guachichiles, he was appointed governor andcaptain general ofNew Mexico, replacingJuan Durán de Miranda. He assumed the post of governor on March 10, 1665.[1]
ThePuebloans planned a revolt in an alliance the Apache, with the aim of killing the governor and the priests. For their part, the Amerindians who had been Christianised would be slavered by them. The revolt was promoted byPiro Pueblos ofSenecú, with the support of the Amerindians ofSocorro. They killed 17 people among soldiers and Christianized Amerindians in theMagdalena Mountains, in Socorro.[1] In order to prevent the revolt, Villanueva repressed the perpetrators and conspirators of the rebellion. He had the six Pueblo that promoted it,[2][1] in addition to severely punishing to all the people he considered linked to the revolt, whether they were conspirators or accomplices, both in Senecú and Socorro. Villanueva then forgave to all other members of the revolt.
He ended his government on November 29, 1668.[1]
Later,[when?] Villanueva was elected mayor ofHuauchinango, in Southern of modern Mexico. He held that position until 1678.
One year later, Villanueva was inMexico City, where he died on May 17, 1679.[1]