Alonso Mercado y Villacorta
Encyclopedia
Alonso de Mercado y Villacorta, Marquis of Villacorta was a Spanish civil servant, acting in the Río de la Plata area.
Born in Catalonia
, he was Governor of Tucumán from 1655 to 1660. He was conned by Pedro Bohórquez
, a Spanish adventurer who promised Mercado access to the hidden location of Inca treasures and afterwards had to suppress a revolt of Indians led by Bohórquez.
Afterwards, he was nominated as Governor of the Río de la Plata, a position that he held between 1660 and 1663. He ordered the transfer of the city of Santa Fe
to its present location. In 1662 he expelled the Society of Jesus
from its initial location on nowadays Plaza de Mayo
, as its buildings interfered with shooting practices of nearby Buenos Aires
' "fortress" (the current Casa Rosada
).
His request for royal authorization to commerce with two foreign ships a year was denied. Nonetheless, he allowed Dutch
ships to dock in the Buenos Aires port. Because of his tolerance with the contraband
of goods and slaves, he was subjected to a tribunal of grievances, but the case was dismissed. He was demoted and became again Governor of Tucumán (1664–1670). He founded San José de Metán
(1665) and fortified the city of Talavera de Esteco to prevent further attacks from the Indians. He conducted a final campaign against Calchaquí
Indians, and ordered the exile of 200 families of Quilmes
Indians to Buenos Aires.
Born in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, he was Governor of Tucumán from 1655 to 1660. He was conned by Pedro Bohórquez
Pedro Bohórquez
Pedro Chamijo , more commonly known as Pedro Bohórquez or Inca Hualpa, was a Spanish adventurer in the Viceroyalty of Peru. He was probably born in Spain, but some sources say he was born in Quito...
, a Spanish adventurer who promised Mercado access to the hidden location of Inca treasures and afterwards had to suppress a revolt of Indians led by Bohórquez.
Afterwards, he was nominated as Governor of the Río de la Plata, a position that he held between 1660 and 1663. He ordered the transfer of the city of Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
to its present location. In 1662 he expelled the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
from its initial location on nowadays Plaza de Mayo
Plaza de Mayo
The Plaza de Mayo is the main square in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is flanked by Hipólito Yrigoyen, Balcarce, Rivadavia and Bolívar streets....
, as its buildings interfered with shooting practices of nearby Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
' "fortress" (the current Casa Rosada
Casa Rosada
La Casa Rosada is the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina, and of the offices of the President. The President normally lives at the Quinta de Olivos, a compound in Olivos, Buenos Aires Province. Its characteristic color is pink, and is considered one of the most...
).
His request for royal authorization to commerce with two foreign ships a year was denied. Nonetheless, he allowed Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
ships to dock in the Buenos Aires port. Because of his tolerance with the contraband
Contraband
The word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold....
of goods and slaves, he was subjected to a tribunal of grievances, but the case was dismissed. He was demoted and became again Governor of Tucumán (1664–1670). He founded San José de Metán
San José de Metán
San José de Metán is a city in the south of the province of Salta, Argentina, 160 km from the provincial capital Salta, on National Routes 9 and 34. It has about 29,000 inhabitants as per the . It is the head town of the Metán Department....
(1665) and fortified the city of Talavera de Esteco to prevent further attacks from the Indians. He conducted a final campaign against Calchaquí
Calchaquí
The Calchaquí were a tribe of South American Indians of the Diaguita group, now extinct, who formerly occupied northern Argentina. Stone and other remains prove them to have reached a high degree of civilization...
Indians, and ordered the exile of 200 families of Quilmes
Quilmes (tribe)
The Quilmes people were an indigenous tribe of the Diaguita group settled in the western subandean valleys of today’s Tucumán province, in northwestern Argentina. They fiercely resisted the Inca invasions of the 15th century, and continued to resist the Spaniards for 130 years, until being defeated...
Indians to Buenos Aires.