Juan de Mendoza y Luna - A Stan Klos Biography
MENDOZA y LUNA, Juan de, Marquis of Montesclaros,
Viceroy of Mexico and Peru, born in Spain about 1560; died in Madrid about 1625.
Nothing is known of his early life.
He was appointed viceroy of Mexico in 1603, and entered
the capital on 23 October with his wife. In the first year of his government the
capital was inundated in consequence of the rains of August, 1604, and some
parts remained under water till the following year. It was proposed to remove
the city to the slopes of Tacubaya, but this was given up on account of the
value of the buildings that would have to be abandoned and Mendoza thought of
constructing canal at Huehuetoca, but the immense amount of native labor that
was needed for the work forced him to leave the project to his successor.
He repaired the dam that had been built by Luis de
Velasco fifty-one years before, and began to build the highways of Guadeloupe,
San Cristobal, San Antonio, Chapultepec, and others. During his administration
the paving of the capital and the construction of an aqueduct to conduct the
water from Chapultepec was also begun, but before it was finished Mendoza was
appointed viceroy of Peru.
He entered Lima, 21 December, 1607, and received the
government from the audiencia. His administration was beneficial to the country,
he organized in 1608 an army to defend the Chilian frontier against the
Araucanians, and built in 1608-'10 a stone bridge over Rimac River that is still
in existence. In 1611 he constructed the municipal palace and the public
promenade of Los Descalzos, and in the next year he prohibited the distribution
of Indians for the service of the viceroy, the supreme judges, and other
superior officers.
When in 1615 a Dutch fleet under Admiral Spilberg
entered the Pacific, he prepared everything for resistance, threw up defensive
works in Callao, and sent a fleet under his nephew, Rodrigo de Mendoza, to
encounter Spilberg, but during a night action near Pisco on 17 July one of the
Spanish ships was sunk by its own flagship. On 21 July, Spilberg appeared before
Callao, but after a short cannonade left for Paita, and afterward for the
Philippines.
Notwithstanding the repeated petitions of citizens
against Mendoza's removal, the Prince of Esquilache, Francisco de Borja (q. v.),
was appointed his successor, and Mendoza delivered the government to him, 18
December, 1615. He returned to Spain and was appointed councillor of state, and
afterward president of the council of Aragonia.
He was the author of noteworthy sacred poems, which have
not been printed, but the manuscript of several were found in the archives of
Mexico. He also wrote "Ordenanzas para el mejor beneficio de
las minas de la N. E." (Mexico, 1606).
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 StanKlos.comTM
MENDOZA y LUNA, Juan de, Marquis of Montesclaros, Viceroy of Mexico and Peru, born in Spain about 1560; died in Madrid about 1625. Nothing is known of his early life. He was appointed viceroy of Mexico in 1603, and entered the capital on 23 October with his wife. In the first year of his government the capital was inundated in consequence of the rains of August, 1604, and some parts remained under water till the following year. It was proposed to remove the city to the slopes of Tacubaya, but this was given up on account of the value of the buildings that would have to be abandoned and Mendoza thought of constructing canal at Huehuetoca, but the immense amount of native labor that was needed for the work forced him to leave the project to his successor. He repaired the dam that had been built by Luis de Velasco fifty-one years before, and began to build the highways of Guadeloupe, San Cristobal, San Antonio, Chapultepec, and others. During his administration the paving of the capital and the construction of an aqueduct to conduct the water from Chapultepee was also begun, but before it was finished Mendoza was appointed viceroy of Peru. He entered Lima, 21 December, 1607, and received the government from the audiencia. His administration was beneficial to the country, he organized in 1608 an army to defend the Chilian frontier against the Araucanians, and built in 1608-'10 a stone bridge over Rimac river that is still in existence. In 1611 he constructed the municipal palace and the public promenade of Los Descalzos, and in the next year he prohibited the distribution of Indians fi)r the service of the viceroy, the supreme judges, and other superior officers. When in 1615 a Dutch fleet under Admiral Spilberg entered the Pacific, he prepared everything for resistance, threw up defensive works in Callao, and sent a fleet under his nephew, Rodrigo de Mendoza, to encounter Spilberg, but during a night action near Pisco on 17 July one of the Spanish ships was sunk by their own flag-ship. On 21 July, Spilberg appeared before Callao, but after a short cannonade left for Paita, and afterward for the Philippines. Notwithstanding the repeated petitions of citizens against Mendoza's removal, the Prince of Esquilaehe, Francisco de Borja (q. v.), was appointed his successor, and Mendoza delivered the government to him, 18 December, 1615. He returned to Spain and was appointed councillor of state, and afterward president of the council of Aragonia. He was the author of noteworthy sacred poems, which have not been printed, but the manuscript of several were found in the archives of Mexico. He also wrote "Ordenanzas para el mejor beneficio de las minas de la N. E." (Mexico, 1606).
