Manuel de Oms facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manuel de Oms Marquess of Castelldosrius
24th Viceroy of Peru
In office July 7, 1707 – April 22, 1710
Monarch	Philip V
Preceded by	Juan Peñalosa y Benavides
Succeeded by	Miguel Núñez de Sanabria
Personal details
Born	1651 Barcelona
Died	24 April 1710

Don Manuel de Oms y Santa Pau, also known as the 1st Marquess of Castelldosrius, was an important Spanish diplomat, writer, and government official. He was born in 1651 and passed away on April 24, 1710. From July 7, 1707, until April 22, 1710, he served as the Viceroy of Peru. This meant he was the king's main representative in the large Spanish territory of Peru.

Manuel de Oms: Before Becoming Viceroy

Manuel de Oms was born in Barcelona, Spain, into a noble family from Catalonia. A noble family is one with a long history of important ancestors. He became the governor of Tarragona in 1677. Later, in 1681, he was sent as an ambassador to Portugal. An ambassador is a high-ranking diplomat who represents their country in another nation.

In 1698, King Charles II of Spain chose him to be the ambassador to the court of Louis XIV in Paris, France. Manuel de Oms really liked French culture and supported the House of Bourbon, a powerful royal family. This was important during the War of the Spanish Succession.

During this war, he supported the Duke of Anjou, who would later become Philip V of Spain. Manuel de Oms was the one who told the French king that Charles II had named the Duke of Anjou as his heir. He famously said, "Señor, desde este momento no hay Pirineos" ("Lord, from this moment there are no more Pyrenees."). This meant that the mountains separating Spain and France would no longer divide their royal families.

King Charles II gave him the special title of Marquess of Castelldosrius in 1696. He also received a Grandeeship, which is a very high rank of nobility in Spain. As a reward for his support, King Philip V named him Viceroy of Peru in 1704. However, he did not start this important job until 1707.

Manuel de Oms as Viceroy of Peru

Manuel de Oms officially began his role as Viceroy of Peru on July 7, 1707. He managed to send a very large amount of money, 1,600,000 pesos, back to the king in Spain. This money helped pay for some of the costs of the ongoing war. This was partly possible because new mines were discovered in Caraboya.

However, collecting this money caused many complaints. Especially merchants, who are people involved in trade, were unhappy. They often took legal action against the viceroy in the Tribunal del Consulado, which was a special court for trade issues. The merchants also disagreed with his decision to open the port of Callao to French ships.

Other problems arose during his time as viceroy. There was an increase in French goods being brought in illegally, known as contraband. Also, English ships, led by people like Charles Wager and Woodes Rogers, attacked the coast between 1708 and 1711. To fight these attacks, the viceroy tried to create a navy. He did this by requiring people to join the military, which is called a levy.

In 1709, Manuel de Oms faced accusations of improper financial dealings and involvement in illegal trade. It was said that French goods were flooding the market, and many were brought into Pisco without paying taxes. Pisco was a small port about 200 kilometers south of Lima. Some members of the viceroy's own family were believed to be involved in these activities. He was almost removed from his position. However, the king's support and the large amounts of money he was sending to Spain helped him. His property in Catalonia was taken away for a time, but it was given back to his family in 1714.

He eventually made an agreement with the merchants. In exchange for their financial help, he promised to remove the French from the viceroyalty. This plan did not work well. The treasure ships he sent from Panama to Spain then lost the protection of the French ships. This made them easy targets for the English, who were based in Jamaica.

Culture and Arts in Peru

Manuel de Oms was a very educated and cultured man. He was also a "man of letters," meaning he was skilled in writing and literature. He translated religious songs by Saint Thomas Aquinas. He also wrote plays, including El Mejor Escudo de Perseo and Triunfos del Amor y del Poder. He even wrote a short, funny play called A cantar un villancico.

On September 23, 1709, he started a literary academy. This was a group that met to discuss literature. He also encouraged weekly literary discussions at the palace. These events attracted some of Lima's best writers, including the famous Criollo scholar Pedro Peralta y Barnuevo. A Criollo was a person of Spanish descent born in the Americas. Manuel de Oms also supported several Indigenous poets. He brought French and Italian styles and ideas to Peru. He even composed some musical pieces himself.

The Italian musician Rocco Cerruti (1688–1760) traveled to Peru with the viceroy.

Death of Manuel de Oms

Manuel de Oms y de Santa Pau became ill and died in Lima on April 24, 1710. His heart was sent back to Spain, and his body was buried in the San Francisco church in Lima. After his death, Miguel Núñez de Sanabria, who was the president of the Audiencia of Lima, took over the government duties temporarily. The Audiencia was a high court and advisory body.

See also

In Spanish: Manuel de Oms y de Santa Pau para niños