Governor of Montevideo
Encyclopedia
The office of Governor of Montevideo was created shortly after the Treaty of Madrid
in 1750 by Ferdinand VI of Spain
, with the objective of establishing more effective control of the left bank
of the Río de la Plata
, which had been awarded to Spain as a term of the treaty.
The constant threat of Portuguese
expansion into the region was virtually impossible to deter, due to the lack of permanent Spanish settlement along the frontier. This, coupled with the possibility of indigenous
attacks, themselves perhaps motivated by the Portuguese, convinced the Spanish crown to establish this new jurisdiction in the recently founded city of Montevideo
.
Despite the fact that Montevideo was in those days a small village of minor significance, military considerations took precedence. The city's importance was soon elevated by its regional strategic value.
At its creation, the jurisdiction's direct control did not extend beyond 70 kilometers (two days on a horse). This zone was, in fact, the only area brought under effective royal control.
The governors of Montevideo
between 1751 and 1814 were:
On February 3, 1807, British forces occupied
Montevideo, deposing and taking prisoner Governor Ruiz Huidobro. The British held the city until September 9, 1807, when it was recaptured by Spain. The office of Governor was subsequently reestablished:
On June 23, 1814, Argentine and Uruguayan troops under the command of Carlos María de Alvear
entered Montevideo, ending Spanish control of the city. The Supreme Directorate
, the revolutionary government of the Río de la Plata
, maintained the office of governor of Montevideo, designating its successors:
On February 25, 1815, Argentine troops abandoned Montevideo to the forces of José Gervasio Artigas
, who designated two delegate governors during his rule of Uruguay. These were the last two officials to hold the title:
The office came to an end with the second Portuguese invasion of Uruguay in July of 1816.
Treaty of Madrid (1750)
The Spanish–Portuguese treaty of 1750 or Treaty of Madrid was a document signed by Ferdinand VI of Spain and John V of Portugal on January 13, 1750, concerning their empires and status of their territories in what is now Brazil....
in 1750 by Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
, with the objective of establishing more effective control of the left bank
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
of the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, which had been awarded to Spain as a term of the treaty.
The constant threat of Portuguese
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
expansion into the region was virtually impossible to deter, due to the lack of permanent Spanish settlement along the frontier. This, coupled with the possibility of indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
attacks, themselves perhaps motivated by the Portuguese, convinced the Spanish crown to establish this new jurisdiction in the recently founded city of Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
.
Despite the fact that Montevideo was in those days a small village of minor significance, military considerations took precedence. The city's importance was soon elevated by its regional strategic value.
At its creation, the jurisdiction's direct control did not extend beyond 70 kilometers (two days on a horse). This zone was, in fact, the only area brought under effective royal control.
The governors of Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
between 1751 and 1814 were:
- José Joaquín de VianaJosé Joaquín de VianaJosé Joaquín de Viana was a Spanish military and political figure, Governor of Montevideo between 1751 and 1764 and 1771 and 1773.-Biography:...
(1751-1764) - Agustín de la Rosa (1764-1771)
- José Joaquín de VianaJosé Joaquín de VianaJosé Joaquín de Viana was a Spanish military and political figure, Governor of Montevideo between 1751 and 1764 and 1771 and 1773.-Biography:...
(1771-1773) - Joaquín del Pino y RozasJoaquín del PinoJoaquín del Pino Sánchez de Rojas Romero y Negrete , was a Spanish military engineer and politician, who held various positions in the South American colonial administration.-Early life:...
(1773-1790) - Antonio de Olaguer y FeliúAntonio de Olaguer y FeliúAntonio de Olaguer y Feliú was a Spanish soldier and politician who spent most of his career in South America.Born in Villafranca del Bierzo, León, Olaguer was sent to Buenos Aires as a military specialist during the governorship of Pedro de Cevallos. He took part in the siege of Colonia del...
(1790-1797) - José de Bustamante y GuerraJosé de Bustamante y GuerraJosé de Bustamante y Guerra , sometimes referred to simply as Bustamante, was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and politician. He was a native of Corvera de Toranzo in Cantabria, Spain.-Early life:In 1770 Bustamante became a midshipman at the Academy of the Guardiamarinas in Cádiz...
(1797-1804) - Pascual Ruiz HuidobroPascual Ruiz HuidobroPascual Ruiz Huidobro , Spanish soldier in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, who fought against the British invasions of the Río de la Plata as Governor of Montevideo....
(1804-1807)
On February 3, 1807, British forces occupied
British invasions of the Río de la Plata
The British invasions of the Río de la Plata were a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin in South America . The invasions took place between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars, when Spain was an ally of...
Montevideo, deposing and taking prisoner Governor Ruiz Huidobro. The British held the city until September 9, 1807, when it was recaptured by Spain. The office of Governor was subsequently reestablished:
- Francisco Javier de ElíoFrancisco Javier de ElíoFrancisco Javier de Elío , was a Spanish military, governor of Montevideo and the last Viceroy of the Río de la Plata. He was also instrumental in the Absolutist repression after the restoration of Ferdinand VII as King of Spain...
(1807-1810) - Joaquín de Soria (April to October 1810)
- Gaspar de VigodetGaspar de VigodetGaspar de Vigodet was a Spanish military with French roots and last Royalist Governor of Montevideo....
(spelled "Bigodé" in contemporary documents) (1810-1814)
On June 23, 1814, Argentine and Uruguayan troops under the command of Carlos María de Alvear
Carlos María de Alvear
Carlos María de Alvear was an Argentine soldier and statesman, Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata in 1815....
entered Montevideo, ending Spanish control of the city. The Supreme Directorate
Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
The Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata , was a title given to the executive officers of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, according to the form of government established in 1814 by the Asamblea del Año XIII...
, the revolutionary government of the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, maintained the office of governor of Montevideo, designating its successors:
- Nicolás Rodríguez PeñaNicolás Rodríguez PeñaNicolás Rodriguez Peña was an Argentine politician. Born in Buenos Aires in April 1775, he worked in commerce which allowed him to amass a considerable fortune. Among his several successful businesses, he had a soap factory partnership with Hipólito Vieytes, which was a center of conspirators...
(July to August, 1814) - Miguel Estanislao Soler (August, 1814 to February, 1815)
On February 25, 1815, Argentine troops abandoned Montevideo to the forces of José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764...
, who designated two delegate governors during his rule of Uruguay. These were the last two officials to hold the title:
- Fernando Otorgués (February to July, 1815)
- Miguel Barreiro (July, 1815 to January, 1817)
The office came to an end with the second Portuguese invasion of Uruguay in July of 1816.