Melchor Liñán y Cisneros facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Most Reverend Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros |
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| Archbishop of Lima | |
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Archbishop of Lima |
| Predecessor | Juan de Almoguera |
| Successor | Antonio de Zuloaga |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1665 by Antonio Sanz Lozano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 19, 1629 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | June 28, 1708 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Previous post | Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas (1672–1675) Bishop of Popayán (1667–1672) Bishop of Santa Marta (1664–1668) |
Melchor Liñán y Cisneros (born December 19, 1629, in Madrid, Spain – died June 28, 1708, in Lima, Peru) was an important leader in the Catholic Church. He served as an Archbishop in Lima, Peru, for many years.
He was also a powerful political figure. From 1678 to 1681, he held the title of Viceroy of Peru. A viceroy was like a governor, ruling a large area on behalf of the King of Spain.
Contents
Early Life and Church Career
Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros was born in Madrid, Spain. He went to the University of Alcalá de Henares to study theology. Theology is the study of religious faith and practice. He earned a special degree called a doctorate there.
After his studies, he became a chaplain in Buitrago. A chaplain is a priest who serves a specific group or institution. He also worked as a "calificador" for the Holy Office of the Inquisition. This meant he was a censor, checking books and ideas for religious correctness.
In 1664, Pope Alexander VII chose him to be the Bishop of Santa Marta. This is a city in what is now Colombia. He officially became a bishop in 1665.
Later, in 1668, Pope Clement IX appointed him as the Bishop of Popayán. This was another important church role in the region.
Leadership in the New World
In 1671, Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros was sent to a place called Nuevo Reino de Granada. This area is now part of Colombia. He went as a "visitador," which means an inspector. His job was to check on the local government because things were not running smoothly.
He ended up taking over as the temporary leader of the "Audiencia." The Audiencia was a high court and governing body. He also served as the temporary governor and captain general of the region.
In 1672, Pope Clement X made him the Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas. This was a very important church position in what is now Bolivia.
Archbishop and Viceroy of Peru
In 1677, Pope Innocent XI appointed him to his most important church role: Archbishop of Lima. Lima was the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Just one year later, in 1678, he was also named the Viceroy of Peru. He held this powerful position until 1681. As Viceroy, he was responsible for governing a vast territory for the Spanish Crown.
One of his main tasks as Viceroy was to improve the defenses of the port of Callao. This port was very important for trade. He wanted to protect it from attacks by Dutch "filibusters," who were like pirates.
He also worked to keep order among the clergy. Some church groups, like the Franciscans in Cuzco and the Dominicans in Quito, were having disagreements. They did not like it when new church leaders were sent from Spain. Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros helped resolve these issues.
He also made an important change at the National University of San Marcos. After a famous astronomer died, Viceroy Liñán y Cisneros made sure that mathematics became a permanent subject at the university. He even appointed a Belgian scholar, Doctor Juan Ramón Koening, to teach it.
For all his hard work and service, the King of Spain gave him a special title: conde de la Puebla de los Valles. He also wrote a book called Ofensa y defensa de la libertad eclesiástica, which means "Offense and Defense of Ecclesiastical Liberty." He passed away in Lima in 1708.
Images for kids
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Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros
See also
In Spanish: Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros para niños
