Antonio Sebastián Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Marquess of Mancera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Excellent The Marquess of Mancera GE KOA
25th Viceroy of New Spain
In office October 15, 1664 – December 8, 1673
Monarch	Philip IV Charles II
Preceded by	Diego Osorio
Succeeded by	The Duke of Veragua
Personal details
Born	January 20, 1622 Seville, Spain
Died	February 13, 1715 Madrid, Spain
Spouses	Leonora María del Carretto Juliana Teresa de Meneses
Parents	Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Marquess of Mancera (father) María Luisa de Salazar (mother)

Antonio Sebastián Álvarez de Toledo y Salazar, 2nd Marquess of Mancera (born January 20, 1622 – died February 13, 1715) was an important Spanish nobleman and diplomat. He held the special title of Grandee of Spain. From October 15, 1664, to December 8, 1673, he served as the Viceroy of New Spain. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a colony in the name of the king. New Spain was a large Spanish colony that included much of modern-day Mexico and parts of the United States.

Early Life and Adventures

Antonio Sebastián Álvarez de Toledo was born in Spain. However, he spent his childhood in Peru. His father, Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, was the viceroy there from 1639 to 1648.

In 1644, when Antonio was a young man, his father gave him a big responsibility. He was put in charge of a large navy fleet. His mission was to settle and build forts at Corral Bay. This bay was located at the entrance of the old city of Valdivia. This action was a response to a Dutch expedition that had visited Valdivia in 1643.

When Antonio and his men arrived at Corral Bay in February 1645, they started building strong defensive forts. These forts became known as the Valdivian Fort System. This system was one of the most important defensive structures on the Pacific coast of South America. It was a great example of Spanish-American fort building. Building and keeping up these forts was very expensive for Spain. But it was seen as necessary to protect the southern parts of Peru. Peru, along with Mexico, was a main source of wealth for the Spanish Crown.

Antonio returned to Spain with his father in 1648. Later, he worked in the royal palace. He also served as an ambassador in Venice and Germany. On December 30, 1663, King Philip IV of Spain chose him to be the viceroy of New Spain.

Leading New Spain

The Marquess of Mancera arrived in Chapultepec, near Mexico City. He stayed there for a few days before officially entering the capital. He ordered that there should be no big celebrations for his arrival. This was because the colony's treasury was low due to money sent to Spain and ongoing conflicts. However, he did use 16,000 pesos meant for the celebration to buy a fancy golden box. This box was sent as a gift to the king. He officially started his job in Mexico City on October 15, 1664.

The viceroy and his wife, the vicereine, were big supporters of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. She was a famous nun and scholar in the 1600s.

In 1668, an English privateer named Robert Searle attacked St. Augustine, Florida. He took the money meant for the soldiers there. To prevent this from happening again, Viceroy Álvarez de Toledo improved the Armada de Barlovento. This was the coast guard fleet. He ordered the building of fast, well-armed ships for the fleet. These costs, along with other government expenses, put a strain on the treasury.

Despite the money issues, the viceroy continued to rebuild the main cathedral of Mexico City. Its beautiful inside was finally finished in 1666. A second dedication ceremony for the cathedral was held on December 22, 1667.

The viceroy also checked the forts at San Juan de Ulúa, near Veracruz. He stopped work on Mexico City's drainage system and a new convent in Guanajuato. This was because there wasn't enough money. He also sent another expedition to Baja California, but it was not successful. In 1670, some local groups caused trouble in Durango.

In 1666, news reached Mexico City that King Philip IV of Spain had died. A special memorial service was held in the cathedral. Queen Mariana of Austria became the ruler for her young son, Charles II of Spain, who was only 3 years old.

The Crown asked the viceroy to continue his term in office. He had offered to resign due to health reasons, but his resignation was not accepted.

Later Years

Antonio Sebastián Álvarez de Toledo finally left his position as viceroy in 1673. However, he stayed in Mexico City for several more months. On April 2, 1674, he began his journey back to Spain. Sadly, on April 22, his wife passed away in Tepeaca, a town on the way to Veracruz. She was buried there. He stayed for a while but eventually continued his trip alone. He returned to Spain, where he passed away in 1715.

Family

In 1655, the Marquess married Leonora María del Carretto. She was the daughter of Francesco del Carretto, 2nd Marquess of Grana. They had one daughter together. In 1680, he married a second time to Juliana Teresa de Meneses. They did not have any children. His title later passed to his nephew, Pedro Sarmiento, 3rd Marquis of Mancera.

His daughter with Leonora María del Carretto was:

• María Luisa de Toledo y Carretto, 1st Marchioness of Melgar

Additional information

Sources

See also

In Spanish: Antonio Sebastián de Toledo Molina y Salazar para niños