Pedro Moya de Contreras facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend Pedro Moya de Contreras
Viceroy of New Spain
In office September 25, 1584 – October 17, 1585
Monarch	Philip II of Spain
Preceded by	Luis de Villanueva y Zapata
Succeeded by	Álvaro Manrique de Zúñiga
President of Council of the Indies
In office 1585 – December 21, 1591
The Most Reverend Pedro Moya de Contreras Archbishop of Mexico Archdiocese Mexico Enthroned June 17, 1573 Reign ended December 7, 1591 Predecessor Alonso de Montúfar Successor Alonso Fernández de Bonilla Orders Ordination November 21, 1573 Consecration by Antonio Ruíz de Morales y Molina Personal details Born c. 1527 Pedroche, Córdoba, Spain Died December 21, 1591 (aged 63–64) Madrid, Spain Nationality Spanish Denomination Roman Catholic

Pedro Moya de Contreras (born around 1528 in Pedroche, Spain; died December 21, 1591, in Madrid) was a very important leader in New Spain (which is now Mexico). He held three powerful jobs at the same time:

• The top religious judge (called the Inquisitor General)
• The main church leader (the Archbishop of Mexico)
• The highest ruler of the colony (the Viceroy of Mexico)

He was the 6th Viceroy and governed from September 1584 to October 1585. During this time, he held all three of these important positions.

Becoming a Church Leader

Pedro Moya de Contreras studied law at the University of Salamanca in Spain. He became a doctor of canon law, which is the law of the Catholic Church. Later, he worked as a church leader in the Canary Islands and then as a religious judge in Murcia, Spain.

Starting the Inquisition in New Spain

In 1571, he became the first Inquisitor General of New Spain. This meant he was the chief religious judge in the New World. He set up the Tribunal del Santo Oficio (Holy Office Tribunal) in Mexico City that same year.

As Inquisitor General, he made everyone in New Spain, from important officials to common people, promise to defend the Catholic faith. He wanted them to find and stop anyone who did not follow Catholic rules. He held the first public ceremony to enforce religious rules in New Spain in 1571.

Becoming Archbishop of Mexico

Two years later, on June 15, 1573, Moya de Contreras was chosen to be the Archbishop of Mexico. He officially became a bishop on November 21, 1573. He served as Archbishop until 1591, the year he died.

In 1585, he led an important meeting of the Church in Mexico. This meeting set rules for the Church that lasted for a long time. One major rule from this meeting was that it banned the enslavement of Native Americans.

As both Archbishop and Viceroy, he cared a lot about educating Native Americans. He started a school called the Seminary of the Indies. There, Native American students learned Christian teachings, reading, writing, singing, and useful skills.

His Role in Government

In 1583, the Viceroy before Moya de Contreras asked King Philip II to send a special inspector. This inspector was needed to help solve problems between the Viceroy and the Audiencia, which was a high court and governing body. King Philip chose Moya de Contreras, who was already the Archbishop of Mexico, for this job.

Solving Problems in the Colony

As the special inspector, Moya de Contreras looked into complaints about corrupt officials. He removed some officials from their jobs and punished others. In a report to the king, he praised the honest officials and criticized those who were not.

The previous Viceroy died in June 1583. For 16 months, the Audiencia was in charge of the colony. However, Moya de Contreras continued as the special inspector during this time, and he had a lot of influence. In 1584, he was chosen to be the new Viceroy.

Holding Three Powerful Jobs

He started his new job as Viceroy on September 25, 1584. Now, he held the three most important positions in the colony: Inquisitor General, Archbishop, and Viceroy. With so much power, he was able to fix many problems and punish those who broke the law.

This made some powerful people angry, but common people saw him as their protector. He also managed to increase the money sent back to Spain.

In 1584, he resigned as Viceroy. He kept his other jobs, including special inspector, for a short time to finish his work before returning to Spain. When he went back to Spain, he became the president of the Council of the Indies. This council advised the King on matters related to the Spanish colonies. He held this position until he died.

Moya de Contreras died in Spain in December 1591. He was so poor that the King had to pay for his funeral. He was buried in a church in Madrid. He also wrote several things that were later collected in a book called Cartas de Indias (Letters from the Indies).

See also

In Spanish: Pedro Moya para niños

• Luis de Villanueva y Zapata, interim viceroy who preceded Moya de Contreras