Juan de Arechederra
Encyclopedia
Juan de Arechederra, O. P.
(Caracas
, Venezuela
, September 20, 1681—Nueva Segovia
, November 12, 1751) was a Venezuelan
(originally Spanish
Criollo
) friar
and member of the Dominican Order
who served as the Rector of the University of Santo Tomas
from 1735 to 1737 and from 1743 to 1745 and Bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia
from 1745 and in turn, the Bishop from 1750 until his death in 1751. In Philippine history, he is best remembered as being the Governor-General
from 1745 to 1750 who baptized Alimuddin I, the only Catholic Sultan of Sulu.
, a city-colony at the Spanish colonial provinces of New Kingdom of Granada
. In 1701, he joined the Dominican Order
for the province of Santa Cruz, his hometown.
He went to Mexico
to pursue a degree of doctor of theology at the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico
, aftwerwards a masters' degree on theology. By 1713, he joined a Dominican missionary to the Philippines. In the Philippines he held several posts such as being the vicar
of a parish in Cavite
, a professor of theology at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran
and twice served as the Rector of University of Santo Tomas
.
to assist Inquisition in the islands. During his time, Filipino natives or Indios are exempted from the Inquisition, for example, when a Spanish mestizo
named Jacinta de Jesús was to be charged, she was acquitted by Arechederra by proposing herself as an Indio. In 1724, he accelerated the Inquisition charges filed against Antoine Guigue, a French missionary based in Guangdong
convicted of Jansenism
. He was later sentenced to be suspended from priestly actions and perform spiritual exercises until he please the Pope
.
In 1745, the Bishop of Nueva Segovia Manuel del Río died from office and Arechederra was elected to occupy this position. By July 1745, he assumed the diocese in full capacity while waiting for the Papal Bull proclaiming him as the new bishop. However, Governor-General
Gaspar de la Torre died in office on September 21. By virtue of a royal decree issued earlier in August 15, 1734, in case of death of the governor-general, the highest governing person in the Islands shall take the responsibility of running the government. The same day, he assumed the position of being the governor-general and president ad interim
of the Real Audiencia.
Having heard of his acceptance as the bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia and his inauguration as the new governor-general, a letter coming from Madrid presented Arechederra to the King of Spain in 1750. In return the King ordered bulls recognizing Arechederra as the new Bishop of Nueva Segovia and affirming his position as the governor-general. However, on November 12, 1751, he died at office without having reached the bulls consecrated.
During his short reign as the governor-general, he alternatively ruled in his diocese in Nueva Segovia and the government in Manila. As a governor-general, he was succeeded by the Marquis of Brindisi
.
On April 29, 1750, baptisms took place at Paniqui, Tarlac
. He was renamed as Don Fernando de Alimuddin. His children were educated in Spanish and Catholic education. Before fully pushing his ideals to restore him to power, Arechederra was replaced to office by the Marquis of Brindisi
.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
(Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, September 20, 1681—Nueva Segovia
Lal-Lo, Cagayan
Lal-lo is now a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 39,607people in 7,443 households....
, November 12, 1751) was a Venezuelan
Venezuelan people
Venezuelan people are from a multiethnic nation in South America called Venezuela. Venezuelans are predominantly Roman Catholic and speak Spanish, and a majority of them are the result of a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
(originally Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
Criollo
Criollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
) friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
and member of the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
who served as the Rector of the University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
from 1735 to 1737 and from 1743 to 1745 and Bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia
-Introduction:The Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It covers the province of Ilocos Sur, on the island of Luzon. The see of the archdiocese is the city of Vigan....
from 1745 and in turn, the Bishop from 1750 until his death in 1751. In Philippine history, he is best remembered as being the Governor-General
Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
from 1745 to 1750 who baptized Alimuddin I, the only Catholic Sultan of Sulu.
Early life and activities
Little was known about Arechederra's early life. He was born to Spanish parents but was later sent to a convent in San Jacinto de CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, a city-colony at the Spanish colonial provinces of New Kingdom of Granada
New Kingdom of Granada
The New Kingdom of Granada was the name given to a group of 16th century Spanish colonial provinces in northern South America governed by the president of the Audiencia of Bogotá, an area corresponding mainly to modern day Colombia and parts of Venezuela. Originally part of the Viceroyalty of...
. In 1701, he joined the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
for the province of Santa Cruz, his hometown.
He went to 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...
to pursue a degree of doctor of theology at the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico
Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico
The Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico was founded on 21 September 1551 by Royal Decree signed by Charles I of Spain, in Valladolid, Spain. It is generally considered the first university officially founded in North America and second in the Americas.After the Mexican War of Independence it...
, aftwerwards a masters' degree on theology. By 1713, he joined a Dominican missionary to the Philippines. In the Philippines he held several posts such as being the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of a parish in Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
, a professor of theology at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Letran College, or simply Letran is a private Roman Catholic institution of learning located in Intramuros, Manila, in the Philippines. The college was founded in 1620. Colegio de San Juan de Letran has the distinction of being the oldest college in the...
and twice served as the Rector of University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
.
Inquisition and governor-general
When Arechederra came to the Philippines one of his initial position was to become one of the four superintendent-commissaries appointed by the Holy Office of the InquisitionSpanish 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...
to assist Inquisition in the islands. During his time, Filipino natives or Indios are exempted from the Inquisition, for example, when a Spanish mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
named Jacinta de Jesús was to be charged, she was acquitted by Arechederra by proposing herself as an Indio. In 1724, he accelerated the Inquisition charges filed against Antoine Guigue, a French missionary based in Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
convicted of Jansenism
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
. He was later sentenced to be suspended from priestly actions and perform spiritual exercises until he please the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
In 1745, the Bishop of Nueva Segovia Manuel del Río died from office and Arechederra was elected to occupy this position. By July 1745, he assumed the diocese in full capacity while waiting for the Papal Bull proclaiming him as the new bishop. However, Governor-General
Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
Gaspar de la Torre died in office on September 21. By virtue of a royal decree issued earlier in August 15, 1734, in case of death of the governor-general, the highest governing person in the Islands shall take the responsibility of running the government. The same day, he assumed the position of being the governor-general and president ad interim
Ad interim
The Latin phrase ad interim literally means "in the time between" denotes the meaning of "in the meantime", "for an intervening time" or "temporarily" in the English language...
of the Real Audiencia.
Having heard of his acceptance as the bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia and his inauguration as the new governor-general, a letter coming from Madrid presented Arechederra to the King of Spain in 1750. In return the King ordered bulls recognizing Arechederra as the new Bishop of Nueva Segovia and affirming his position as the governor-general. However, on November 12, 1751, he died at office without having reached the bulls consecrated.
During his short reign as the governor-general, he alternatively ruled in his diocese in Nueva Segovia and the government in Manila. As a governor-general, he was succeeded by the Marquis of Brindisi
Francisco José de Ovando, 1st Marquis of Brindisi
Francisco José de Ovando y Solís Rol de La Cerda, 1st Marquis of Brindisi was a Spanish soldier who served as governor of Chile.-Early life:Francisco José de Ovando was born in the city of Caceres in Extremadura...
.
Baptismal of Alimuddin I
On January 2, 1749, Arechederra welcomed the Sultan of Sulu Azim ud-Din (alternatively spelled as Alimuddin) who sought refuge to the Spanish colonial authorities. Alimuddin I was previously ousted from his position as the sultan in a coup staged by his younger brother, Bantilan who seized the throne. Instead of publicizing his own intention of his refuge, which is to seek help in restoring him to power, Alimuddin I asked Arechederra to baptize him and embrace Christianity. After the examination of two Jesuit priests, he was recommended to be baptized.On April 29, 1750, baptisms took place at Paniqui, Tarlac
Paniqui, Tarlac
Paniqui is a first class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 83,311 people in 16,828 households....
. He was renamed as Don Fernando de Alimuddin. His children were educated in Spanish and Catholic education. Before fully pushing his ideals to restore him to power, Arechederra was replaced to office by the Marquis of Brindisi
Francisco José de Ovando, 1st Marquis of Brindisi
Francisco José de Ovando y Solís Rol de La Cerda, 1st Marquis of Brindisi was a Spanish soldier who served as governor of Chile.-Early life:Francisco José de Ovando was born in the city of Caceres in Extremadura...
.