Pedro de Toledo, 1st Marquis of Mancera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don
Pedro Álvarez de Toledo
Marqués de Mancera
Caballero de Alcántara |
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Portrait by Evaristo San Cristóval
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| 15th Viceroy of Peru | |
| In office December 18, 1639 – September 20, 1648 |
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| Monarch | Philip IV |
| Prime Minister | Count-Duke of Olivares |
| Preceded by | The Count of Chinchón |
| Succeeded by | The Count of Salvatierra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c.1585 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | March 9, 1654 (aged 68–69) Madrid, Spain |
| Spouses | Luisa Feijóo de Novoa María Luisa de Salazar |
| Children | Francisca, Antonio, Antonia |
| Profession | Lieutenant General |
| Signature |  |
Pedro Álvarez de Toledo y Leiva, 1st Marquis of Mancera (born around 1585, died 1654), was an important Spanish nobleman. He was a general, a colonial administrator, and a diplomat. He served as the Captain General of Galicia and later as the Viceroy of Peru. He held the Viceroy position from December 18, 1639, to September 20, 1648.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Pedro de Toledo was born around 1585 in Madrid, Spain. His father was Don Luis de Toledo, the 4th Lord of Mancera. Pedro served in the Spanish armies in Italy. He rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant general. This meant he was a high-ranking officer in the royal galleys (ships) of Sicily.
In 1623, King Philip IV of Spain honored him. He changed Pedro's title from Lord to Marquis of Mancera. After this, Pedro served for eight years as the governor and Captain General of Galicia. This was an important role in Spain.
Viceroy of Peru
Pedro de Toledo was chosen to be the 15th Viceroy of Peru in 1639. He was 54 years old at the time. A viceroy was like a king's representative in a colony. He traveled to the Viceroyalty of Peru with his son, Antonio Sebastián de Toledo. Antonio later became the Viceroy of New Spain (another Spanish colony) and the 2nd Marquis of Mancera.
Key Actions as Viceroy
As viceroy, Pedro de Toledo made several important changes:
- Introduced Papel Sellado: He brought in the "sealed paper" system. This meant official documents had to be written on special paper with a seal.
- Strengthened Defenses: He made the navy stronger. He also built up the defenses of important ports. These ports included Valdivia, Valparaíso, Arica, and Callao.
- Built Callao Wall: In Callao, he ordered a long defensive wall to be built. This wall was about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long. It was finished in 1647 and helped protect the city.
- Isla Mancera: An island at the mouth of the Valdivia River is named after him. It is called Isla Mancera.
Cultural Contributions
Pedro de Toledo also enjoyed cultural activities. He organized literary discussion parties called tertulias. These were like formal social gatherings where people discussed books and ideas.
During these gatherings, a special item was introduced: the mancerina. This was a ceramic or silver saucer. It had a special holder for a jícara, which was a cup for drinking chocolate. Making mancerinas later became a big industry in Spanish towns like Manises and Talavera.
At the end of his time as viceroy, Pedro de Toledo returned to Spain. He passed away in Madrid in 1654.
Family Life
Pedro de Toledo was married twice. His first wife was Luisa Feijóo de Novoa y Zamudio. They had one daughter together. In 1621, he married his second wife, María Luisa de Salazar y Enríquez de Navarra. She was the 3rd Lady of El Mármol. With María Luisa, he had two more children.
- Children with Luisa Feijóo de Novoa:
* Francisca María de Toledo, who became the 2nd Marchioness of Belvis.
- Children with María Luisa de Salazar:
* Antonio Sebastián Álvarez de Toledo, who became the 2nd Marquis of Mancera. * Antonia María de Toledo.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro de Toledo y Leiva para niños
