Agustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Marquess of Amarillas
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Portrait by Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz
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| 42nd Viceroy of New Spain | |
| In office 10 November 1755 – 5 February 1760 |
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| Monarch | Ferdinand VI |
| Preceded by | The Count of Revillagigedo |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Cajigal de la Vega |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1715 Ronda, Andalusia, Spain |
| Died | February 5, 1760 (aged 44–45) Mexico City, Mexico |
Agustín de Ahumada y Villalón, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas (born in 1715, died February 5, 1760) was an important Spanish military leader. He served as the Viceroy of New Spain from 1755 to 1760. A Viceroy was like a governor who ruled a colony for the king of Spain.
Early Life and Career
Agustín de Ahumada came from a noble family in Spain. His parents were Bartolomé Félix de Ahumada y Ahumada and Luisa Gertrudis Fernández de Villalón y Narváez. The Spanish king gave him the special title of 1st Marquess of Amarillas. He was married to Catalina de Vera y Leyva.
Agustín de Ahumada had a very successful career in the military. He was known for his bravery in wars fought in Italy. He rose to a high rank, becoming a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Guards. Before he became Viceroy, he was the governor of Barcelona, a big city in Spain.
Viceroy of New Spain
Agustín de Ahumada arrived in Mexico City as the new Viceroy on November 10, 1755. One of his first acts was to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe being named the patron saint of New Spain in 1756. He also worked to fix problems with some priests in Puebla in 1756.
He helped settle disagreements about newly found silver mines in Nuevo León. He also worked with Governor Miguel Sesma to bring peace to the Coahuila region. He continued important work on the drainage system in Mexico City.
Viceroy Ahumada sent help to the Philippines and to Florida. This was to protect Spanish lands from other groups. The French were trying to set up posts in Texas. English pirates also threatened Spanish ships and towns in the Caribbean Sea.
More than 1,000 Comanche people in Texas started a revolt. They caused damage to non-Indian settlements. Viceroy Ahumada sent soldiers to help the fort of San Sabás. This fort was near San Antonio de Béjar. The fort's leader and other Spanish defenders were killed. But the extra soldiers helped stop the uprising.
In 1757, the army of New Spain had 2,897 soldiers. These soldiers were organized into 15 groups. Most of the soldiers were in Mexico City and Veracruz. Smaller groups of soldiers were spread out in other parts of the colony.
The most successful mines during this time were Bolaños in Jalisco and La Voladora in Nuevo León. La Voladora had just started producing silver.
In 1759, a new volcano called Jorullo was formed in Michoacán. It appeared on a large farm owned by Andrés Pimentel. All the nearby farms and villages had to be left empty. The Viceroy worked hard to find new places for the people who lost their homes. Most of these people were Native Americans. He even used his own money to help them.
Death
On August 10, 1759, King Ferdinand VI of Spain died. He had been sick for a long time. His successor was Charles III. Viceroy Ahumada y Villalón died while still in office. He passed away in Mexico City after a long illness. He was buried in the church of La Piedad.
Because he spent so much of his own money helping others, he left his family with little money. The government paid for his family to travel back to Spain.
After his death, the Audiencia Real took over. This was a special court led by Francisco de Echávarri. They managed New Spain until the next Viceroy arrived. The next Viceroy was Francisco Cajigal de la Vega, who had been the governor of Havana.
See also
In Spanish: Agustín de Ahumada y Villalón para niños
