Joaquín de Montserrat, marqués de Cruillas
Encyclopedia
Joaquín de Montserrat, marqués de Cruillas (born ca. 1725, Spain
) was Spanish viceroy of New Spain, from October 6, 1760 to August 24, 1766.
, and his formal entry into Mexico City
was October 6, 1760.
Among his immediate and most important concerns was the organization of a true colonial army. As he passed through Puebla
he reviewed a battalion of militia formed of Negroes and Mulattos. Their arms were very irregular, and the new viceroy made a formal request to Spain for new rifles to arm them.
In 1761 there was an epidemic of smallpox that principally attacked the Indians. Estimates were 14,600 dead in Mexico City and up to 80,000 in Puebla. The government nearly emptied its coffers (hardly full to begin with) to provide what palliative assistance was possible. Viceroy Montserrat took economy measures, ordered the collection of back taxes, and prohibited hoarding of foodstuffs and merchandise.
On November 20, 1761, Mayas
under Jacinto Canek
rose in rebellion in Cisteil, Yucatan
. Canek was captured, and on December 14, 1761 he was tortured and quartered in the plaza of Valladolid
.
Other disasters during Montserrat's term of office included a major flood in Guanajuato
that paralyzed the operation of the silver mines (April, 1762), and another epidemic (of "fever") that caused many deaths (1763).
He also had to send military assistance to Sonora
, where a revolt of Pima
s and Seris had broken out against their maltreatment by the Spanish colonists. The rebels had killed the garrisons of two presidios and the governor before escaping to the mountains, where they were finally subdued.
to the Spanish throne, Spain was again at war with England (the Seven Years' War
). Havana
fell to the English on August 13, 1762, and Veracruz
was under imminent threat of a landing. Montserrat strengthened the fortifications at Veracruz and made sure they were well supplied. He raised more troops and ensured that they were organized and trained to fight effectively. To guard the trade merchandise, he organized two companies of grenadiers, of Negroes and Mulattos. The population dubbed these "Los Morenos" (the dark-skinned ones). The merchants of Veracruz formed another company and paid their salaries, arms and equipment. Other battalions and regiments were raised in the provinces, including battalions in Valladolid, León, Puebla and Oaxaca. Cavalry and militia were also raised in the large cities.
A peace ending the Seven Years War was signed at Paris on February 10, 1763. Spain received Louisiana and regained Havana and Manila, but ceded Florida to England, as well as the right of settlement and timber-harvesting in Belize.
In 1764 he organized the postal service, sent aid to Cuba, and continued work on the drainage system of Mexico City.
On September 30, 1765, José María Morelos
, hero of Mexican independence, was born in Valladolid, Michoacan.
as visitador (inspector), with full powers to reform the administration and introduce new economic ideas. Gálvez, a minister of the Council of the Indies, arrived on August 2, 1765.
In 1766 Montserrat granted concessions to the miners of Guanajuato, who had rebelled. He also created new presidios in the north of the colony. Thereafter, disgusted with his loss of authority to the visitador, he resigned and returned to 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...
) was Spanish viceroy of New Spain, from October 6, 1760 to August 24, 1766.
First years as viceroy
Joaquín de Montserrat was named viceroy of New Spain early in 1760. The transfer of power was made September 19, 1760 in OtumbaOtumba
Otumba may refer to:*Otumba, Mexico State, a municipality in the State of Mexico, Mexico*Otumba de Gómez Farías, a town and the municipal seat of Otumba municipality, State of Mexico*Otompan, a pre-Columbian altepetl...
, and his formal entry into 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...
was October 6, 1760.
Among his immediate and most important concerns was the organization of a true colonial army. As he passed through 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....
he reviewed a battalion of militia formed of Negroes and Mulattos. Their arms were very irregular, and the new viceroy made a formal request to Spain for new rifles to arm them.
In 1761 there was an epidemic of smallpox that principally attacked the Indians. Estimates were 14,600 dead in Mexico City and up to 80,000 in Puebla. The government nearly emptied its coffers (hardly full to begin with) to provide what palliative assistance was possible. Viceroy Montserrat took economy measures, ordered the collection of back taxes, and prohibited hoarding of foodstuffs and merchandise.
On November 20, 1761, Mayas
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
under Jacinto Canek
Jacinto Canek
Jacinto Canek, or Jacinto Uc de los Santos was an 18th-century Maya revolutionary who fought against the Spanish in the Yucatán Peninsula of New Spain....
rose in rebellion in Cisteil, Yucatan
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
. Canek was captured, and on December 14, 1761 he was tortured and quartered in the plaza of Valladolid
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
.
Other disasters during Montserrat's term of office included a major flood in Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
that paralyzed the operation of the silver mines (April, 1762), and another epidemic (of "fever") that caused many deaths (1763).
He also had to send military assistance to Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, where a revolt of Pima
Pima
The Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham and the Hia C-ed O'odham...
s and Seris had broken out against their maltreatment by the Spanish colonists. The rebels had killed the garrisons of two presidios and the governor before escaping to the mountains, where they were finally subdued.
War with the English
In January, 1762, after the accession of Charles IIICharles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
to the Spanish throne, Spain was again at war with England (the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
). 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...
fell to the English on August 13, 1762, and 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...
was under imminent threat of a landing. Montserrat strengthened the fortifications at Veracruz and made sure they were well supplied. He raised more troops and ensured that they were organized and trained to fight effectively. To guard the trade merchandise, he organized two companies of grenadiers, of Negroes and Mulattos. The population dubbed these "Los Morenos" (the dark-skinned ones). The merchants of Veracruz formed another company and paid their salaries, arms and equipment. Other battalions and regiments were raised in the provinces, including battalions in Valladolid, León, Puebla and Oaxaca. Cavalry and militia were also raised in the large cities.
A peace ending the Seven Years War was signed at Paris on February 10, 1763. Spain received Louisiana and regained Havana and Manila, but ceded Florida to England, as well as the right of settlement and timber-harvesting in Belize.
In 1764 he organized the postal service, sent aid to Cuba, and continued work on the drainage system of Mexico City.
Reorganization of the colonial army
This viceroy is considered the organizer of the first true professional army of New Spain. The soldiers were Mestizos, Negroes and Mulattos. Indians were not accepted for military service. Because the army officials at the time of his arrival were volunteers of good family, but not trained in military service, the viceroy requested that Spain send military instructors. On November 1, 1765, Lt. Gen. Juan de Villalba arrived in Veracruz, with five other generals and various other officers, officials and men. These were the instructors for the new colonial army.On September 30, 1765, José María Morelos
José María Morelos
José María Teclo Morelos y Pavón was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming its leadership after the execution of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811...
, hero of Mexican independence, was born in Valladolid, Michoacan.
Last years in office
Charles III had lost confidence in Montserrat because of a perceived decrease in the collection of royal rents. The Crown named José de GálvezJosé de Gálvez
José de Gálvez y Gallardo, marqués de Sonora was a Spanish lawyer, a colonial official in New Spain and ultimately Minister of the Indies . He was one of the prime figures behind the Bourbon Reforms...
as visitador (inspector), with full powers to reform the administration and introduce new economic ideas. Gálvez, a minister of the Council of the Indies, arrived on August 2, 1765.
In 1766 Montserrat granted concessions to the miners of Guanajuato, who had rebelled. He also created new presidios in the north of the colony. Thereafter, disgusted with his loss of authority to the visitador, he resigned and returned to Spain.