Miguel Caldera
Encyclopedia
Miguel Caldera was an important figure in the pacification and colonization of Mexico
's northern frontier immediately following the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
woman named Maria. He was born in 1548 in what later became the city of Zacatecas
and was raised by Franciscan
monks in the city's monastery.
in 1571 or 1572 at the age of 24 or 25 as a common soldier. He obtained the rank of captain before 1580.
He was impressed by cruelty and futility of the Spanish Crown
's efforts to subdue the Chichimecas by brute force. He advocated the use of diplomacy and gift-giving instead. The success of his alternative policy led to his appointment as Chief Justice and District Mayor of the Valley of Tlaltenango
and Jerez
. In that role he was the principal implementor of the Spanish Crown's pacification program in the region of Zacatecas
, northern Jalisco
and San Luis Potosí
.
Caldera was instrumental in the migration of 400 Tlaxcaltec
families in 1591 to the newly pacified region to help Christianize
the local indigenous populations and consolidate the peace. The consolidation of peace during his tenure facilitated settlement of the region and the eventual Spanish occupation of what would, two and a half centuries later, become the American Southwest.
after the famous mines in Peru
. As settlement of the mines began, the lack of water near the mines became problematic. The permanent settlement, which was initially populated by Tlaxcaltec families, was named San Luis Potosí
. Miguel Caldera is considered one of the founders of this city.
, one of the Tlaxcaltec frontier colonies he helped found. The son of this couple, Pedro Cid Caldera was the primary heir of Caldera upon his death in 1597.
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...
's northern frontier immediately following the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
Early life
Caldera was the illegitimate son of a Castilian soldier named Pedro Caldera and a GuachichilGuachichil
Of all the Chichimeca natives, the Guachichiles occupied the most extensive territory, stretching north to Saltillo in Coahuila and to the northern corners of Michoacán in the south...
woman named Maria. He was born in 1548 in what later became the city of Zacatecas
Zacatecas, Zacatecas
Zacatecas is a city and municipality in Mexico and the capital of the state of Zacatecas. It is located in the north central part of the country. The city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid 16th century. Prior to this, the area's rich deposits in silver and other minerals were known...
and was raised by Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monks in the city's monastery.
Military career
Caldera entered the Chichimeca WarChichimeca War
The Chichimeca War was a military conflict waged between Spanish colonizers and their Indian allies against a confederation of Chichimeca Indians. It was the longest and most expensive conflict between Spaniards and the indigenous peoples of New Spain in the history of the colony.The Chichimeca...
in 1571 or 1572 at the age of 24 or 25 as a common soldier. He obtained the rank of captain before 1580.
He was impressed by cruelty and futility of the Spanish Crown
Habsburg Spain
Habsburg Spain refers to the history of Spain over the 16th and 17th centuries , when Spain was ruled by the major branch of the Habsburg dynasty...
's efforts to subdue the Chichimecas by brute force. He advocated the use of diplomacy and gift-giving instead. The success of his alternative policy led to his appointment as Chief Justice and District Mayor of the Valley of Tlaltenango
Tlaltenango de Sánchez Román
The municipality of Tlaltenango de Sánchez Román is located in the southwestern portion of the Mexican state of Zacatecas. The average elevation of the municipality is 1,723 meters above sea level and the municipality covers an area of...
and Jerez
Jerez de García Salinas
The city and surrounding municipality of Jerez is located in the center of the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. Jerez de García Salinas is the name of the city and "Jerez" of the municipality....
. In that role he was the principal implementor of the Spanish Crown's pacification program in the region of Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....
, northern Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
and San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
.
Caldera was instrumental in the migration of 400 Tlaxcaltec
Tlaxcaltec
The Tlaxcalteca were an indigenous group of Nahua ethnicity that inhabited the Kingdom of Tlaxcala located in what is now the Mexican state of Tlaxcala.-Pre-hispanic history:...
families in 1591 to the newly pacified region to help Christianize
Christianization
The historical phenomenon of Christianization is the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once...
the local indigenous populations and consolidate the peace. The consolidation of peace during his tenure facilitated settlement of the region and the eventual Spanish occupation of what would, two and a half centuries later, become the American Southwest.
Career as Miner
In March of 1592, Caldera sent a group of miners and soldiers from Mezquitic to the region of Cerro San Pedro to survey and register some newly discovered mines. Upon ascertaining the mines' potential the place was named PotosíPotosí
Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
after the famous mines in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. As settlement of the mines began, the lack of water near the mines became problematic. The permanent settlement, which was initially populated by Tlaxcaltec families, was named San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí, commonly called SLP or simply San Luis, is the capital of, and most populous city in the Mexican state of the same name. The city lies at an elevation of 1,850 meters...
. Miguel Caldera is considered one of the founders of this city.
Late Life
Caldera acquired considerable wealth during his lifetime including claims on a number of newly discovered mines in the region that he administered. He was never married, but fathered an illegitimate daughter by the name of Isabel, who married Juan de la Torre and was the mother of two sons: Marcos and Melchor. Caldera also had a sister named Maria Cid Caldera, who was married to Hernán González, a close collaborator of Caldera in the administration of the town of ColotlánColotlán
The municipality of Colotlán is located in the northern extremity of the Mexican state of Jalisco. The municipality covers an area of approximately 505 square kilometers...
, one of the Tlaxcaltec frontier colonies he helped found. The son of this couple, Pedro Cid Caldera was the primary heir of Caldera upon his death in 1597.
Sources
- Philip Wayne Powell, Mexico's Miguel Caldera: The Taming of Ameríca's First Frontier (1548–1597).