Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro
Encyclopedia
Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro, 10th Count of Lemos (20 October 1632 - 6 December 1672) was a Spanish nobleman who was Viceroy of Peru from 1667 until his death.
, in what is now the province of Lugo.
He was the son of Francisco Fernández de Castro, 9th Count of Lemos, and Antonia Téllez-Giron y Enriquez de Ribera.
He married in Madrid, on 20 July 1664 Ana Francisca de Borja, daughter of the 8th Duke of Gandia, a wealthy widow since 1663 who had been the third wife of Enrique Pimentel.
Fernández de Castro was educated for the army. He was a court favorite when King Charles II of Spain
appointed him Viceroy of Peru in 1666. The Count and Countess of Lemos (a title related to the Spanish city of Monforte de Lemos
) arrived in Peru at the port of Callao
on November 9, 1667. They were received by the Spanish of the colony with much pomp. The viceroy took possession of his office on November 21, 1667, in Lima.
In 1665 the rich mineowners José and Gaspar Salcedo, brothers from the province of Paucarcolla (now part of Puno region
), revolted against the colonial government. The brothers had discovered the very rich Laykakota silver mines in 1657, and by this time were probably the richest men in Latin America. The Salcedo brothers, who were Andalusia
ns having Native Peruvians as in-laws, were equal-opportunity employers; however they were seen as more favorable to their fellow Andalusians, to Castilians, Creoles and Native Peruvians than to Catalans, Galicians and Basques, and the latter groups of workers formed a rival faction which battled the mainstream faction led by the Salcedo family. Although the Royal Audiencia had attempted to subdue José Salcedo, blaming him for the riots, his forces defeated the royalist troops, and a truce was reached by which Salcedo effectively became the undisputed authority in the town. http://www.peruperuperu.com/cities/puno.htm
When Fernández de Castro, who was from Galicia, arrived in the colony, this rebellion had reached such proportions that, out of personal greed and desire to enforce colonial laws, he felt he needed to resolve it personally. He left his wife assisted by a Administrative Advisory Council as a Governess leaving for Paucarcolla on June 7, 1668, and soon suppressed the rebellion with an iron hand. He establish a court to try the rebels, and it sentenced José Salcedo and 41 others to death. These sentences were carried out. Gaspar Salcedo was banished for six years and fined 12,000 francs and costs. The viceroy also ordered the population — perhaps as many as 10,000 people — of San Luis de Alva, the settlement that had grown up around the mines, removed a short distance to the town of Puno
, which he made the capital of the province.http://www.theincatrail.com/ He then burned San Luis de Alva.
The sentences were appealed to Spain, where they were reversed. Gaspar Salcedo was freed and the fines were refunded. A natural son of José, also named José Salcedo, was made marqués de Villarica
by King Philip V
in 1703.
After this campaign the viceroy visited the provinces of Chucuito and Cusco Region
. He returned to Lima
and once again took up his office on November 12, 1668.
During this long absence from the capital, he left his wife, Ana Francisca de Borja y Doria
, in charge of the government of Peru, as gobernadora, (female governor). This was an official appointment. The royal decree by which the count held the position of viceroy provided that in his absence, the government would be entrusted to his wife. She was not a figurehead; she exercised real authority and ran the business of the colony during her husband's absence, making decisions and issuing decrees. Her authority was recognized by the Audiencia of Lima. This was the first time in America that a woman exercised full viceregal authority.
In the early part of 1670 the news arrived at Lima that the famous English privateer Henry Morgan
had taken Chagres
and captured and sacked the city of Panama
. Viceroy Fernández de Castro sent an expedition of 18 ships and nearly 3,000 troops, but it arrived in Panama too late — Morgan had already evacuated the city. Later in 1670 rumors of a foreign invasion prompted the viceroy to order all Pacific ports to be put in a thorough state of preparedness.
Viceroy Fernández de Castro died in Lima after a short illness on December 6, 1672, still in office.
Biography
He was born in Monforte de LemosMonforte de Lemos
Monforte de Lemos is a city and municipality in northwestern Spain, in the province of Lugo, Galicia. It covers an area of 200 km² and lies 62 km from Lugo. As of 2005 it had a population of 19,472. It is located in a valley between the shores of Sil River and Miño River, in the area...
, in what is now the province of Lugo.
He was the son of Francisco Fernández de Castro, 9th Count of Lemos, and Antonia Téllez-Giron y Enriquez de Ribera.
He married in Madrid, on 20 July 1664 Ana Francisca de Borja, daughter of the 8th Duke of Gandia, a wealthy widow since 1663 who had been the third wife of Enrique Pimentel.
Fernández de Castro was educated for the army. He was a court favorite when King Charles II of Spain
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
appointed him Viceroy of Peru in 1666. The Count and Countess of Lemos (a title related to the Spanish city of Monforte de Lemos
Monforte de Lemos
Monforte de Lemos is a city and municipality in northwestern Spain, in the province of Lugo, Galicia. It covers an area of 200 km² and lies 62 km from Lugo. As of 2005 it had a population of 19,472. It is located in a valley between the shores of Sil River and Miño River, in the area...
) arrived in Peru at the port of Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
on November 9, 1667. They were received by the Spanish of the colony with much pomp. The viceroy took possession of his office on November 21, 1667, in Lima.
In 1665 the rich mineowners José and Gaspar Salcedo, brothers from the province of Paucarcolla (now part of Puno region
Puno Region
Puno is a region in southeastern Peru. It is bordered by Bolivia on the east, the Madre de Dios Region on the north, the Cusco and Arequipa regions on the west, the Moquegua Region on the southwest, and the Tacna Region on the south...
), revolted against the colonial government. The brothers had discovered the very rich Laykakota silver mines in 1657, and by this time were probably the richest men in Latin America. The Salcedo brothers, who were Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns having Native Peruvians as in-laws, were equal-opportunity employers; however they were seen as more favorable to their fellow Andalusians, to Castilians, Creoles and Native Peruvians than to Catalans, Galicians and Basques, and the latter groups of workers formed a rival faction which battled the mainstream faction led by the Salcedo family. Although the Royal Audiencia had attempted to subdue José Salcedo, blaming him for the riots, his forces defeated the royalist troops, and a truce was reached by which Salcedo effectively became the undisputed authority in the town. http://www.peruperuperu.com/cities/puno.htm
When Fernández de Castro, who was from Galicia, arrived in the colony, this rebellion had reached such proportions that, out of personal greed and desire to enforce colonial laws, he felt he needed to resolve it personally. He left his wife assisted by a Administrative Advisory Council as a Governess leaving for Paucarcolla on June 7, 1668, and soon suppressed the rebellion with an iron hand. He establish a court to try the rebels, and it sentenced José Salcedo and 41 others to death. These sentences were carried out. Gaspar Salcedo was banished for six years and fined 12,000 francs and costs. The viceroy also ordered the population — perhaps as many as 10,000 people — of San Luis de Alva, the settlement that had grown up around the mines, removed a short distance to the town of Puno
Puno
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 100,000. The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro as capital of the province of...
, which he made the capital of the province.http://www.theincatrail.com/ He then burned San Luis de Alva.
The sentences were appealed to Spain, where they were reversed. Gaspar Salcedo was freed and the fines were refunded. A natural son of José, also named José Salcedo, was made marqués de Villarica
Villarica
Villarica is one of the largest barangays of Midsayap, North Cotabato. It is classified as urban as it stretches the national highway going to Davao and Cotabato...
by King Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
in 1703.
After this campaign the viceroy visited the provinces of Chucuito and Cusco Region
Cusco Region
Cusco is a region in Peru. It is bordered by the Ucayali Region on the north; the Madre de Dios and Puno regions on the east; the Arequipa Region on the south; and the Apurímac, Ayacucho and Junín regions on the west...
. He returned to Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
and once again took up his office on November 12, 1668.
During this long absence from the capital, he left his wife, Ana Francisca de Borja y Doria
Ana Francisca de Borja y Doria
Ana Francisca Hermenegilda de Borja y Doria, condesa de Lemos was the wife of Peruvian Viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro, conde de Lemos. During his absence from the capital from June 7, 1668 to November 12, 1668, she was governor of the colony...
, in charge of the government of Peru, as gobernadora, (female governor). This was an official appointment. The royal decree by which the count held the position of viceroy provided that in his absence, the government would be entrusted to his wife. She was not a figurehead; she exercised real authority and ran the business of the colony during her husband's absence, making decisions and issuing decrees. Her authority was recognized by the Audiencia of Lima. This was the first time in America that a woman exercised full viceregal authority.
In the early part of 1670 the news arrived at Lima that the famous English privateer Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan
Admiral Sir Henry Morgan was an Admiral of the Royal Navy, a privateer, and a pirate who made a name for himself during activities in the Caribbean, primarily raiding Spanish settlements...
had taken Chagres
Chagres
Chagres, a village of the Republic of Panama in the Colón Province. It has a harbour from 10 to I ~ ft. deep, which is difficult to enter. The port was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and was opened for traffic with Panama, on the Pacific coast, by way of the Chagres River, in the 16th...
and captured and sacked the city of Panama
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
. Viceroy Fernández de Castro sent an expedition of 18 ships and nearly 3,000 troops, but it arrived in Panama too late — Morgan had already evacuated the city. Later in 1670 rumors of a foreign invasion prompted the viceroy to order all Pacific ports to be put in a thorough state of preparedness.
Viceroy Fernández de Castro died in Lima after a short illness on December 6, 1672, still in office.
Sources
- Gran Enciclopedia de España, (1992), 22 vols. ISBN 84-87544-01-0, 11,052 pages, vol 8, pages 3976-3977,