Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo
Encyclopedia
Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo, (1691–?) was a Spanish governor of Texas
between 1736 - 1737.
(Canary Islands
, Spain
) in 1691. When he was young, he moved to Havana
, Cuba
, where he married Ángela de Alarcón y Ocaña. Later, in 1736 Philip V
appointed him governor of the province of Tlaxcala
, Mexico
. However, when Franquis arrived in Mexico, he discovered that the office of governor of Tlaxcala not was yet vacant, as that this, still was being exercised by his predecessor. Because at the moment, Franquis could not yet exercise this office, the Viceroy
, Archbishop
Vizarrón
decided to appoint him governor ad interim of Texas
for him to work with Manuel de Sandoval
and will he help him to improve its policy in that province. On 26 September the same year (1736), he came to San Antonio. Franquis refused to show the credentials that saw him governor ad interim of that province, and from the beginning he rejected to the civil and religious authorities. Thus losing, all respect that could have had him the missionaries of San Antonio and Los Adaes
. Between the years that he ruled Texas (1736–37), he took over the roles of Sandoval, he filed criminal charges against him, accusing him of seven counts of official misconduct, and later he sent it to prison. To all this must be added that his economic mismanagement led to the province nearly to bankrupt. But not all his actions in Texas were negative. He decided to implement the first dula to the distribution of river waters. The fact that a dula correspond to San Antonio with a day of water is similar to custom of Tenerife. Those suggests in the involvement of the canarian governor in the institutionalization of the distribution of water during the early years of colonization. Shortly thereafter, took place an investigation which ended on July 9, 1737, with the arrest of the politician, accused by his arrogant behavior. In September 1737 he stepped down as governor and he retired to San Juan Bautista, California
, where he defected and settled in Mexico City
. After several years in court, he finally won him. A little later, he settled in Veracruz
, Mexico, and he became an officer of the garrison of that city. Finally, he returned to the regiment of Savoy in Spain. The place and date on which he died is not known. However, it is thought that he had to have died in Mexico or Spain.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
between 1736 - 1737.
Biography
Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo, was born in La Orotava, TenerifeTenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
(Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) in 1691. When he was young, he moved to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, where he married Ángela de Alarcón y Ocaña. Later, in 1736 Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
appointed him governor of the province of Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala is one of the 31 states which along with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipalities and its capital city is Tlaxcala....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. However, when Franquis arrived in Mexico, he discovered that the office of governor of Tlaxcala not was yet vacant, as that this, still was being exercised by his predecessor. Because at the moment, Franquis could not yet exercise this office, the Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
, Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Vizarrón
Juan Antonio de Vizarrón y Eguiarreta
Juan Antonio de Vizarrón y Eguiarreta was archbishop of Mexico from March 21, 1731 to January 25, 1747 and Spanish viceroy of New Spain from March 17, 1734 to August 17, 1740....
decided to appoint him governor ad interim of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for him to work with Manuel de Sandoval
Manuel de Sandoval
Manuel de Sandoval was a prominent military and the governor of Coahuila and Texas - Biography :Manuel de Sandoval was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico to end XVIIth century, but as with other Spanish governor of Texas the exact date of his birth is unknown. In 1707, he joined the army of Santa Fe...
and will he help him to improve its policy in that province. On 26 September the same year (1736), he came to San Antonio. Franquis refused to show the credentials that saw him governor ad interim of that province, and from the beginning he rejected to the civil and religious authorities. Thus losing, all respect that could have had him the missionaries of San Antonio and Los Adaes
Los Adaes
Los Adaes was the capital of Tejas on the northeastern frontier of New Spain from 1729 to 1770. It included a mission, San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes, and a presidio, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Los Adaes . The site is located in the present-day Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. The Los Adaes...
. Between the years that he ruled Texas (1736–37), he took over the roles of Sandoval, he filed criminal charges against him, accusing him of seven counts of official misconduct, and later he sent it to prison. To all this must be added that his economic mismanagement led to the province nearly to bankrupt. But not all his actions in Texas were negative. He decided to implement the first dula to the distribution of river waters. The fact that a dula correspond to San Antonio with a day of water is similar to custom of Tenerife. Those suggests in the involvement of the canarian governor in the institutionalization of the distribution of water during the early years of colonization. Shortly thereafter, took place an investigation which ended on July 9, 1737, with the arrest of the politician, accused by his arrogant behavior. In September 1737 he stepped down as governor and he retired to San Juan Bautista, California
San Juan Bautista, California
San Juan Bautista is a city in San Benito County, California, United States. The population was 1,862 at the 2010 census, up from 1,549 at the 2000 census. The city of San Juan Bautista was named after Mission San Juan Bautista...
, where he defected and settled in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. After several years in court, he finally won him. A little later, he settled in Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Mexico, and he became an officer of the garrison of that city. Finally, he returned to the regiment of Savoy in Spain. The place and date on which he died is not known. However, it is thought that he had to have died in Mexico or Spain.