Agustín de Jáuregui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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Agustín de Jáuregui
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| 33rd Viceroy of Peru | |
| In office July 20, 1780 – April 29, 1784 |
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| Monarch | Charles III |
| Prime Minister | The Count of Aranda |
| Preceded by | Manuel de Guirior |
| Succeeded by | Teodoro de Croix |
| Royal Governor of Chile | |
| In office March 6, 1772 – July 6, 1780 |
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| Monarch | Charles III |
| Prime Minister | The Count of Aranda |
| Preceded by | Francisco Javier de Morales |
| Succeeded by | Tomás Álvarez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 May 1711 Lecároz, Navarre, Spain |
| Died | 29 April 1784 (aged 72) Lima, Peru |
| Spouse | María Josefa Aróstegui |
| Profession | Field Marshal |
Agustín de Jáuregui y Aldecoa (born May 17, 1708 or 1711 – died April 29, 1784) was an important Spanish leader. He was a soldier and politician who served as the governor of Chile from 1772 to 1780. Later, he became the viceroy of Peru from 1780 to 1784.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Agustín de Jáuregui was born in Lecároz, a town in Spain. His parents were Matías de Jáuregui and Juana María de Aldecoa.
When he was about 25 years old, he joined the military. He fought in the British siege of Cartagena de Indias (which is now in Colombia) in 1740. He rose through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant general. He also became a knight of the Order of Santiago, a special honor.
Before becoming governor of Chile, Jáuregui served in other places like Honduras, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. In 1772, while he was in Spain, King Charles III chose him to be the governor of Chile. He traveled to Peru with his son Tomás. His wife, whom he had married in Havana, stayed in Spain.
Governor of Chile (1772-1780)
Jáuregui was the governor of Chile from March 6, 1772, until 1780. During his time, he made many important changes to how the government worked.
Administrative Reforms
- Postal Service: On April 29, 1775, he started a new postal service. This made it easier to send letters and messages.
- First Census: In 1778, he organized Chile's first official count of its people, called a census. It showed that 259,646 people lived there.
- Public Order: In June 1772, he put in place strict rules to keep the peace. For example, people could not carry weapons in public. Stealing animals was punished by whipping. Shops had to close on time or pay fines.
- Tax System Changes: He changed how taxes were collected in 1772. Many taxes that used to be collected by private companies were now paid directly to the government. This included customs taxes. Merchants did not like these changes, but Jáuregui made them happen.
Relations with Indigenous Peoples
Jáuregui held important meetings with leaders of the native groups.
- In April 1774, he met with their representatives in Santiago.
- In December of that year, he met with various leaders at the Parliament of Tapihue.
- One agreement was to open a school for Indigenous people. This school, called the Colegio de San Pablo, was run by the Jesuits and opened in Santiago in April 1775.
Building and Education
Jáuregui also oversaw important construction projects and supported education.
- Santiago Cathedral: He started the building of the cathedral in Santiago. An Italian architect named Gioacchino Toesca led the project. The cathedral was officially opened on December 8, 1775.
- University Growth: The Real Universidad de San Felipe grew during his time. A new Academy of Forensic Practice was added to the university.
- Colegio de San Carlos: In 1778, the Colegio de San Carlos was founded in Santiago. This school replaced an older one that had been run by the Jesuits before they were expelled.
Territorial Changes and Defense
- Loss of Cuyo: In 1776, the region of Cuyo was separated from Chile. This area included the cities of Mendoza, San Juan, and San Luis. It became part of a new government area called the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.
- Militia System: In 1777, Jáuregui created a militia system. This was a group of citizens trained as soldiers to fight bandits and prepare for other military actions. Each unit had to pay for its own uniforms and weapons. Two cavalry (horseback) regiments and one infantry (foot soldier) regiment were formed. He also improved the pay for professional soldiers, which King Charles III approved in 1778.
Trade and Economy
- Free Trade: In 1778, a royal order allowed free trade between different ports in Spain and America. This included Valparaíso and Concepción in Chile. This was a big benefit for the colony, as it made trade easier and cheaper.
Natural Disasters
- In May 1778, the Mapocho River in Santiago experienced a flood.
Viceroy of Peru (1780-1784)
In 1780, Jáuregui was chosen to be the viceroy of Peru. He arrived on July 20, and a big celebration was held in his honor in Lima.
Túpac Amaru II Rebellion
Soon after his arrival, Jáuregui faced a major challenge: the rebellion led by Túpac Amaru II.
- Who was Túpac Amaru II?: He was a descendant of the last Inca (Emperor) of Vilcabamba. He was a local leader (cacique) in the Cusco region and had businesses and respect. He was upset about unfair taxes and forced labor systems like mita and obraje.
- Start of the Revolt: Túpac Amaru II began organizing his rebellion in 1778. The revolt officially started on November 4, 1780. On that day, he captured and executed a local Spanish official. He then spoke to thousands of his followers, announcing that he would end forced labor, slavery, sales taxes, and the unfair local officials.
- Suppression of the Rebellion: Jáuregui worked to defeat Túpac Amaru's forces. In 1781, Túpac Amaru was captured and put on trial. On May 18, 1781, Túpac Amaru, his wife, and other leaders were executed. Their bodies were publicly displayed in different towns to warn others against rebellion. Other rebels were also killed between 1781 and 1783.
- Aftermath: Even after the rebellion was put down, many native people were still unhappy with the forced labor systems. Jáuregui informed the Spanish court about these problems. He also worked to improve Peru's defenses, its citizen army, and its postal service.
Agustín de Jáuregui left his position as viceroy on April 6, 1784. He died a few days later in an accident in Lima.
See also
In Spanish: Agustín de Jáuregui para niños
