TORQUEMADA, Juan de (tor-kay-mah'-dah), Spanish historian, born in Valladolid about 1550; died in Mexico about 1625. He went to Mexico in his youth as an officer, but assumed there the habit of St. Francis, and, besides studying theology, took a course in the Aztec language, history, and antiquities under the direction of the Indian cacique, Antonio Valeriano, who was one of the teachers at the College of Santiago de Tlaltelolco. He became a professor in Tlaltelolco, and finally superior of the college, meanwhile continuing assiduously his studies in ancient history, and after twenty years of labor published his great historical work. In 1614 he was elected provincial of his order at the general chapter in Xochimilco, and during his administration he constructed one of the great causeways that leads to the city of Mexico, which is now called San Cristobal. Besides some ecclesiastical biographies, he wrote " Monarquia Indiana, compuesta de 22 Libros" (3 vols., Seville, 1615; Madrid, 1723), which, notwithstanding his ecclesiastical prejudices, is considered fairly impartial and truthful, although it has been greatly improved by Carlos de Siguenza's "Anotaciones."