Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Cristóbal de la Cerda
Royal Governor of Chile
In office December 1620 – November 1621
Monarch	Philip III
Prime Minister	Cristóbal de Sandoval, Duke of Uceda
Preceded by	Lope de Ulloa
Succeeded by	Pedro Osores
Personal details
Born	1585 Mexico city, Mexico
Spouse	Sebastiana de Avendaño
Profession	Lawyer

Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor was an important Spanish official born in Mexico around 1585. He was a skilled lawyer and served as a judge, known as an oidor, in the Royal Audiencia of Chile. This was like a high court and government body in the Spanish colonies. Cristóbal de la Cerda stepped in as the temporary leader of Chile for about eleven months, from December 1620 to November 1621, after the previous governor, Lope de Ulloa y Lemos, passed away.

Who Was Cristóbal de la Cerda?

Cristóbal de la Cerda was born in Mexico City, which was a very important city in the Spanish Empire. He became a lawyer, which meant he studied laws and how to apply them. This training was very useful for working in the government of the time.

Life as a Judge

Before becoming a temporary governor, Cristóbal de la Cerda worked as an oidor. An oidor was a judge in a special court called a Royal Audiencia. These courts were very powerful. They not only heard legal cases but also helped the governor run the colony. They made sure laws were followed and that the king's rules were kept. Being an oidor meant he had a lot of experience in how the government worked.

Taking Charge in Chile

In 1620, the Royal Governor of Chile, Lope de Ulloa y Lemos, died. When a governor died suddenly, someone had to take over quickly to keep things running smoothly. Because Cristóbal de la Cerda was a senior judge in the Royal Audiencia, he was chosen to be the temporary governor. He held this important position for nearly a year. During this time, he was responsible for managing the colony's affairs until a new, permanent governor could be appointed by the King of Spain. His time as governor was a period of transition for Chile.

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See also

In Spanish: Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor para niños