Enrico Martínez
Encyclopedia
Enrico Martínez , Henri Martín or Heinrich Martin, (date and place of birth unknown; d. in Mexico in 1632) was cosmographer to the King of Spain, interpreter for the Spanish Inquisition
, publisher, and hydraulic engineer.
According to some he was of Spanish descent; Alexander von Humboldt
says that he was either a German or Dutchman, and according to others a Mexican educated in Spain, but in all probability he was a Frenchman, Henri Martín hispanicized under the form of Enrico Martín or Martínez. In 1607 the Viceroy
Don Luis de Velasco
entrusted to him the difficult task of draining the valley surrounding Mexico City
. The valley formed a closed basin, and when the rains were heavy the Lakes of Zumpango and San Cristobal rose higher than that of Texcoco
and overflowed into the basin, inundating the city and threatening it with destruction. Martínez' plan was to open a canal as outlet to the Lake of Zumpango to prevent its overflow. The work began on 28 November 1607, and was terminated by 13 May 1609. Corrosion and the constant action of the water caused caving-in in the interior of the tunnel, and obstructed the passage to such an extent that, during the viceregency of Archbishop Fray Garcia Guerra
(1611–12), in reply to the inquiry made by Philip III
for information concerning the utility of the work, the amount so far expended, and what would still be required to complete it, the archbishop and the municipal government replied that the work done by Martínez was not sufficient to place the city beyond the danger of inundations and that $413,325 had been expended and 1,126,650 workmen engaged in the work. Martínez wrote to the king contradicting this information.
The viceroy, Don Diego Fernandez de Cordoba, Marques de Guadalcazar
(1612–21), the successor of Fray Garcia Guerra, was sent from Spain with special instructions concerning the work of the draining of the valley. At the same time Philip III commissioned the Spanish ambassador to the Court of France, Don Inigo Contreras, to find a competent engineer for the work and the Dutchman Adrian Boot, who arrived in Mexico in 1614, was selected. At the suggestion of the viceroy, Boot with Martínez and the auditor Otalora visited the works and each made a report. Boot reported that Martínez' canal called Huehuetoca or Nochistongo was inadequate and presented plans for a new work which would cost $185,900; Martínez offered with 300 men and $100,000 to finish the work, and to moreover divert into the course of the canal the waters of the River Cuauhtitlan, which, when it rose, overflowed into the valley of Mexico. Boot's plan was rejected, and that presented by Martínez was accepted with the king's approval. The royal approbation was obtained 3 April 1616, and Martínez received his instructions to begin the work at once.
In 1623 when the work was still in an unfinished state the Viceroy Marques de Gelvez
(1621–24) to test the utility of the canal directed the work to be suspended and the waters, including that of the River Cuauhtitlan, which was then discharging through the tunnel, to be once more diverted into the lakes of the valley. This caused a flood in 1627 and the municipal government petitioned the Viceroy Cerralvo
(1624–35) to rectify the trouble and avert a disaster. The viceroy entrusted the matter to Boot, Martínez, and several others who had studied the situation, and all submitted reports. Between disputes and meetings the time up to 1629 was lost and the mouth of Martínez tunnel having become practically obstructed, the waters of the Cuauhtitlan overflowed into the Lake of Zumpango and the City of Mexico was placed in great peril.
The viceroy had Martínez arrested and imprisoned on the charge of having purposely closed the mouth of the tunnel, to which he replied that the lack of funds had prevented the repairs being made in the roof of the tunnel, and that the portions that had caved in had impeded the flow of the water. A few days later (21 September 1629) he was released and the work of repairing the tunnel put into his hands. It was, however, too late, as the following day a great flood occurred, water rising in the city proper to the height of two metres. The ravages of the water were terrible, the greater portion of the houses were rendered uninhabitable, and according to some historians 30,000 persons lost their lives. Some years later the auditor, Don Juan de Villabona Cubiaurre, was appointed chief superintendent of the work and submitted an unfavourable report on the work of Martínez. In 1789 the tunnel was converted into an open canal. At the turn of the twentieth Century an entirely new project was carried out by which the waters of the valley discharge through the Tequixquiac tunnel.
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
, publisher, and hydraulic engineer.
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
says that he was either a German or Dutchman, and according to others a Mexican educated in Spain, but in all probability he was a Frenchman, Henri Martín hispanicized under the form of Enrico Martín or Martínez. In 1607 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...
Don Luis de Velasco
Luis de Velasco, marqués de Salinas
Luis de Velasco, marqués de Salinas , Spanish nobleman, son of the second viceroy of New Spain, and himself the eighth viceroy. He governed from January 27, 1590 to November 4, 1595, and again from July 2, 1607 to June 10, 1611...
entrusted to him the difficult task of draining the valley surrounding 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...
. The valley formed a closed basin, and when the rains were heavy the Lakes of Zumpango and San Cristobal rose higher than that of Texcoco
Lake Texcoco
Lake Texcoco was a natural lake formation within the Valley of Mexico. The Aztecs built the city of Tenochtitlan on an island in the lake. The Spaniards built Mexico City over Tenochtitlan...
and overflowed into the basin, inundating the city and threatening it with destruction. Martínez' plan was to open a canal as outlet to the Lake of Zumpango to prevent its overflow. The work began on 28 November 1607, and was terminated by 13 May 1609. Corrosion and the constant action of the water caused caving-in in the interior of the tunnel, and obstructed the passage to such an extent that, during the viceregency of Archbishop Fray Garcia Guerra
García Guerra
Fray García Guerra, OP , archbishop of Mexico and viceroy of New Spain. He held the former office from December 3, 1607 and the latter from June 19, 1611...
(1611–12), in reply to the inquiry made by Philip III
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
for information concerning the utility of the work, the amount so far expended, and what would still be required to complete it, the archbishop and the municipal government replied that the work done by Martínez was not sufficient to place the city beyond the danger of inundations and that $413,325 had been expended and 1,126,650 workmen engaged in the work. Martínez wrote to the king contradicting this information.
The viceroy, Don Diego Fernandez de Cordoba, Marques de Guadalcazar
Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar
Diego Fernández de Córdoba y López de las Roelas, Marquis of Guadalcázar and Count of Posadas , was Viceroy of Mexico from October 18, 1612 to March 14, 1621 and Viceroy of Peru from July 25, 1622 to January 14, 1629.-Early life:He was born in Seville.In 1598, aged 20, he was in Central Europe,...
(1612–21), the successor of Fray Garcia Guerra, was sent from Spain with special instructions concerning the work of the draining of the valley. At the same time Philip III commissioned the Spanish ambassador to the Court of France, Don Inigo Contreras, to find a competent engineer for the work and the Dutchman Adrian Boot, who arrived in Mexico in 1614, was selected. At the suggestion of the viceroy, Boot with Martínez and the auditor Otalora visited the works and each made a report. Boot reported that Martínez' canal called Huehuetoca or Nochistongo was inadequate and presented plans for a new work which would cost $185,900; Martínez offered with 300 men and $100,000 to finish the work, and to moreover divert into the course of the canal the waters of the River Cuauhtitlan, which, when it rose, overflowed into the valley of Mexico. Boot's plan was rejected, and that presented by Martínez was accepted with the king's approval. The royal approbation was obtained 3 April 1616, and Martínez received his instructions to begin the work at once.
In 1623 when the work was still in an unfinished state the Viceroy Marques de Gelvez
Diego Carrillo de Mendoza y Pimentel, marqués de Gélves
Don Diego Carrillo de Mendoza y Pimentel, 1st Marquis of Gélves was a Spanish cavalry general, viceroy of Aragon, and viceroy of New Spain. He held the latter position from September 21, 1621 to January 15, 1624 or November 1, 1624.-Early career:Carrillo de Mendoza was born in the Kingdom of Aragon...
(1621–24) to test the utility of the canal directed the work to be suspended and the waters, including that of the River Cuauhtitlan, which was then discharging through the tunnel, to be once more diverted into the lakes of the valley. This caused a flood in 1627 and the municipal government petitioned the Viceroy Cerralvo
Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio, marqués de Cerralvo
Don Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio de Toledo, 3rd Marquis of Cerralvo was a Spanish nobleman, inquisitor of Valladolid, and viceroy of New Spain. He held the latter position from November 3, 1624 to September 16, 1635.-Early career and appointment as viceroy of New Spain:Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio was...
(1624–35) to rectify the trouble and avert a disaster. The viceroy entrusted the matter to Boot, Martínez, and several others who had studied the situation, and all submitted reports. Between disputes and meetings the time up to 1629 was lost and the mouth of Martínez tunnel having become practically obstructed, the waters of the Cuauhtitlan overflowed into the Lake of Zumpango and the City of Mexico was placed in great peril.
The viceroy had Martínez arrested and imprisoned on the charge of having purposely closed the mouth of the tunnel, to which he replied that the lack of funds had prevented the repairs being made in the roof of the tunnel, and that the portions that had caved in had impeded the flow of the water. A few days later (21 September 1629) he was released and the work of repairing the tunnel put into his hands. It was, however, too late, as the following day a great flood occurred, water rising in the city proper to the height of two metres. The ravages of the water were terrible, the greater portion of the houses were rendered uninhabitable, and according to some historians 30,000 persons lost their lives. Some years later the auditor, Don Juan de Villabona Cubiaurre, was appointed chief superintendent of the work and submitted an unfavourable report on the work of Martínez. In 1789 the tunnel was converted into an open canal. At the turn of the twentieth Century an entirely new project was carried out by which the waters of the valley discharge through the Tequixquiac tunnel.
Published works
- Repertorio de tiempo e historia natural de Nueva Espana (Mexico, 1606);
- Agricultura de Nueva Espana sobre la cria de ganados, labores, huertas, jardines, etc.;
- De fisionomia de rostros;
- Discurso sobre la magna conjuncion de los planetas Jupiter y Saturno acaecida el 24 de Diciembre de 1603;
- Treinta y dos mapas de la costa del sur de Nueva Espana, de sus puertos, ensenadas, cabos, etc.
External links
- Map by Martinez of New SpainNew SpainNew 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...