Diego Osorio de Escobar y Llamas
Encyclopedia
Diego Osorio de Escobar y Llamas (c. 1608, Coruña, Galicia, Spain
—October 17, 1673, Puebla
, New Spain
) was Roman Catholic bishop of Puebla (1656–73) and viceroy of New Spain
from June 29, 1664 to October 15, 1664.
He took up the position in 1656 and remained there until his death in 1673. There he built the convent of La Santísima Trinidad, hastened the construction of the cathedral, and paid for the chapel and altar of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. In 1663 he was named archbishop of Mexico City
, but he declined the office in order to remain in Puebla (although he did administer the diocese for a few months until the arrival of the new archbishop, Alonso de Cuevas Dávalos).
During his brief administration, he sent 30,000 pesos to Cuba for the repair of the Castle of Santiago
and the rebuilding of the city, which had been destroyed by the English in 1662. He also founded a gunpowder factory and sent some of the production to Cuba. He took steps to see that the Armada de Barlovento was prepared for an attack on the Gulf coast of New Spain. He advanced money for the fortification of Campeche
. Spain was still at war with England.
He reformed the postal service, which was very bad before his administration and much more efficient after his reforms. He also reformed the marketing of mercury and intervened in a dispute between the Franciscans and the governor of Yucatán.
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...
—October 17, 1673, Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
) was Roman Catholic bishop of Puebla (1656–73) and viceroy of New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
from June 29, 1664 to October 15, 1664.
Ecclesiastical career
Osorio de Escobar y Llamas held the offices of canon, inquisitor and vicar-general in the diocese of Toledo. He was a member of the secular clergy, but a friend of the Jesuits. He was chosen bishop of Puebla, on the recommendation of Cardinal Moscoso.He took up the position in 1656 and remained there until his death in 1673. There he built the convent of La Santísima Trinidad, hastened the construction of the cathedral, and paid for the chapel and altar of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. In 1663 he was named archbishop of 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...
, but he declined the office in order to remain in Puebla (although he did administer the diocese for a few months until the arrival of the new archbishop, Alonso de Cuevas Dávalos).
Service as viceroy
He was viceroy for less than four months, from June to October 1664. He was named to the position to replace Viceroy Juan de Leyva de la Cerda, who was ordered back to Spain because of corruption. Osorio apparently accepted the position with reluctance. He was a stranger to profane affairs, and resigned as viceroy at the first opportunity in order to return to his diocese in Puebla.During his brief administration, he sent 30,000 pesos to Cuba for the repair of the Castle of Santiago
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
and the rebuilding of the city, which had been destroyed by the English in 1662. He also founded a gunpowder factory and sent some of the production to Cuba. He took steps to see that the Armada de Barlovento was prepared for an attack on the Gulf coast of New Spain. He advanced money for the fortification of Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
. Spain was still at war with England.
He reformed the postal service, which was very bad before his administration and much more efficient after his reforms. He also reformed the marketing of mercury and intervened in a dispute between the Franciscans and the governor of Yucatán.
Return to Puebla
After resigning as viceroy in 1664, Bishop Osorio had difficulties with his successor, Antonio Sebastián de Toledo. The bishop went into seclusion in the town of Tlatlauquitepec until 1666, when he was able to return to his diocese in Puebla. He died there in 1673 and his body was interred in the cathedral. Later it was moved to La Santísima Trinidad, the convent he had founded.Writings
- "Alegación Jurídica por los Derechos Decimales de las Santas Iglesias del Noreste"
- "Alegación Canónica por la Dignidad Episcopal Angelopolitana"
- "Jurisdicción Apostólica Delegada y Ordinaria sobre Erección de Monasterios Religiosos"