Diego de los Reyes Balmaseda facts for kids

Diego de los Reyes y Balmaseda was the Governor of Paraguay from 1717 to 1721. Many people in Asunción didn't like his rule. A judge named José de Antequera y Castro investigated him. The judge found that Reyes had misused his power, and he was removed from his position. After this, Antequera took over as governor. This event started a big conflict known as the Revolt of the Comuneros. Reyes never got his job back and was later sent away from the province after being held for a year.

Biography

Diego de los Reyes y Balmaseda was born in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain. When he was very young, he moved to Asunción in Paraguay. He lived there for most of his life.

Reyes became a very rich merchant. He made money by exporting yerba mate from Paraguay. He also brought manufactured goods into Paraguay to sell. He married Francisca Benitez, who also lived in Asunción. In 1717, he bought the position of governor. Buying government jobs was common in the Spanish Empire back then.

Why Reyes Was Unpopular

Reyes quickly became an unpopular governor. People thought he used his power to get richer. He controlled trade to benefit himself. He was also seen as too friendly with the Jesuits. The Jesuits were not very popular in Paraguay at the time.

Two of his wife's uncles were Jesuits. Many of his important advisors were also Jesuits. These advisors encouraged him to attack the Payaguá Indians. This happened even though there was a peace agreement from three years earlier. All the captured Payaguás were given to the Jesuits. They were meant to be converted to Christianity.

The local settlers were upset because they didn't get any captives. They had risked their lives fighting the Payaguás. Now, their farms and trade routes were in danger from Payaguá attacks. Reyes also made important people pay new taxes. These taxes were meant to build defenses.

Investigation and Removal

To try and keep his job, Reyes accused his main opponents of treason. He had them put in prison. In 1720, important members of the cabildo (town council) of Asunción complained. They sent their complaints to the Real Audiencia of Charcas. They said Reyes had imprisoned council members without good reason. They also accused him of generally acting unlawfully as governor.

The Audiencia of Charcas sent judge José de Antequera y Castro to investigate Reyes. The accusations included starting an unlawful war against the Payaguás. He was also accused of corruption with his wife's business. People said he created new taxes without permission. He was also accused of stopping trade for merchants who opposed him. Finally, he tried to stop complaints about his rule from reaching the Audiencia.

Antequera only interviewed the people making the complaints first. He found the charges so strong that he quickly demanded Reyes be removed. He didn't even listen to Reyes' side of the story. Antequera later found Reyes guilty. He then claimed the governorship of Paraguay for himself. This made Reyes and his supporters very angry.

Later Life

Reyes ran away from Asunción before he could be arrested. He continued to argue his case. The Viceroy of Peru decided that Antequera's actions were illegal. This was because Antequera tried the governor and then took his place.

Antequera's supporters had their goods seized by Reyes' order. This happened downriver from Asunción in Corrientes. Antequera was annoyed by this. He sent men to Corrientes. They kidnapped Reyes and brought him back to Asunción. He was kept almost alone in prison for over a year.

Reyes was only released after Antequera was removed as governor. The Spanish government quietly told Reyes to move somewhere else. They didn't want to cause more trouble in Paraguay. We don't know much about what happened to Reyes after this. He moved to Lima. In 1733, the Viceroy, the Marquis of Castelfuerte, officially cleared him of all accusations. These accusations were made during the Revolt of the Comuneros and by Antequera.

Reyes never went back to Asunción. We do not know when or where he died. However, his son, Don Carlos de los Reyes Balmaseda, did return to Asunción. He became a member of its town council in 1740.

See also

In Spanish: Diego de los Reyes Balmaceda para niños