Carmine Caracciolo, 5th Prince of Santo Buono facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carmine Nicolao Caracciolo Prince of Santo Buono
Portrait by Evaristo San Cristóval
26th Viceroy of Peru
In office October 5, 1716 – January 26, 1720
Monarch	Philip V
Preceded by	Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón
Succeeded by	Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón
Personal details
Born	July 5, 1671 Bucchianico
Died	July 26, 1726 Madrid

Carmine Nicolao Caracciolo, also known as the 5th Prince of Santo Buono, was an important Spanish nobleman. He was a Grandee of Spain, which was a very high rank for a noble. He served as the Viceroy of Peru from October 5, 1716, to January 26, 1720. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a large area (a "viceroyalty") on behalf of the king.

Carmine Nicolao Caracciolo was born on July 5, 1671, in Bucchianico, which was then part of the Kingdom of Naples. He passed away on July 26, 1726, in Madrid, Spain.

Early Life and Family

Carmine Nicolao Caracciolo's name was sometimes spelled differently, like Carmine Nicola Caracciolo or Carmine Nicolás Caracciolo. He was born into the Caracciolo family, an old and noble family from Naples. His parents were Marino V Caracciolo, the 4th Prince of Santo Buono, and Donna Giovanna Caracciolo.

When his father died in 1694, Carmine took over his titles. He became the Prince of Santo Buono, Duke of Castel di Sangro, and Marquis of Buccianico. He was a well-educated person who enjoyed reading and writing. In 1695, he married Donna Giovanna Costanza Ruffo.

A Career in Diplomacy

Carmine Caracciolo supported the House of Bourbon, the royal family of Spain. In 1701, Naples sent him to meet King Philip V of Spain. The next year, the king made him a special ambassador to Rome. He also gave him the high title of Grandee of Spain.

From 1704 to 1711, Caracciolo worked as an ambassador in Venice. During this time, in 1707, his family's property in Naples was taken away. This happened because Naples came under the rule of Austria instead of Spain. In 1711, he moved to Madrid.

Journey to Peru

In 1713, King Philip V chose Carmine Caracciolo to be the new Viceroy of Peru. It took some time before he could travel to America. In 1715, he set sail from Cadiz, Spain, with his family and many people from his court. Sadly, his wife passed away during the journey while giving birth to one of their sons.

He arrived in Cartagena de Indias (in modern-day Colombia) on warships. He then traveled to Lima, the capital of Peru, entering the city on October 5, 1716. People celebrated his arrival with poems and speeches.

As Viceroy of Peru

Once in Lima, Carmine Caracciolo quickly saw how much corruption there was. This corruption affected both politics and trade in the viceroyalty. He had special instructions from the king to stop French smuggling. This illegal trade had been allowed and even encouraged by the viceroys before him.

Changes in the Viceroyalty

In 1717, a new area called the Viceroyalty of New Granada was created. This new viceroyalty was in northern Peru. It included the areas of Bogotá, Quito, and Panamá. However, this change only lasted until 1724. After that, these territories became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru again. The Viceroyalty of New Granada was later created permanently in 1734.

Key Events and Challenges

Carmine Caracciolo faced many challenges during his time as viceroy.

• He tried to stop the smuggling, but it was very difficult.
• Missionaries working in the mountains helped many local people become Christians.
• The College of Ocopa was founded during his rule.
• A serious sickness affected many Indigenous people, with about 60,000 falling ill.
• A royal order was issued to stop the practice of branding enslaved Black people.
• He saw that the mita system was being abused. The mita was a system where Indigenous people were forced to work for a certain period. The encomenderos (Spanish landowners) were treating them badly. Caracciolo asked the king to end this system, but the king did not agree to his request.

The Great Eclipse

On August 15, 1719, a total eclipse of the sun happened in Lima. This was the first total solar eclipse recorded there since the Spanish arrived. It happened just before noon, making it so dark that people had to light their house lights. The eclipse made people very religious, and many went on special processions to ask for forgiveness.

Carmine Caracciolo served as viceroy until 1720. He passed away in Madrid on July 26, 1726.

See also

In Spanish: Carmíneo Nicolás Caracciolo para niños