Tomás de la Cerda, 3rd Marquess of la Laguna de Camero Viejo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Marquess of la Laguna
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| 28th Viceroy of New Spain | |
| In office 30 November 1680 – 16 November 1686 |
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| Monarch | Charles II |
| Preceded by | Bishop Payo Enríquez de Rivera |
| Succeeded by | The Count of Monclova |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 December 1638 Cogolludo, Spain |
| Died | 22 April 1692 (aged 53) Madrid, Spain |
| Spouse | María Luisa Manrique de Lara y Gonzaga, 11th Countess of Paredes |
Tomás de la Cerda y Aragón (born December 24, 1638 – died April 22, 1692) was an important Spanish nobleman. He served as a high-ranking official, known as a viceroy, in two different places. First, he was named viceroy of Galicia in Spain. Later, he became the viceroy of New Spain, which is now Mexico. He held this important role from 1680 to 1686. He is often called the Count of Paredes, a title he held through his marriage.
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Early Life and Family
Tomás de la Cerda was born in Cogolludo, Spain. His family was very well-known and had a long history in the military and politics. He was the fourth child of Don Antonio de la Cerda, 7th Duke of Medinaceli. His mother was Doña Ana Portocarrero, 5th Duchess of Alcalá.
In 1675, he married Doña María Luisa Manrique de Lara y Gonzaga. She was the 11th Countess of Paredes. They had three children together. In 1679, he was chosen to be the viceroy of Galicia. However, he never took that job. Soon after, he was given the even more important role of viceroy of New Spain.
Viceroy of New Spain: A New Beginning
Tomás de la Cerda arrived in Mexico City on November 30, 1680. He officially took over the government as the new viceroy. He replaced the previous viceroy, Archbishop Payo Enríquez de Rivera.
Grand Welcome: Triumphal Arches
To celebrate the new viceroy's arrival, two grand arches were built. These were called triumphal arches. One arch was designed by Don Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora. He was a famous scholar and professor at the University of Mexico. The other arch was designed by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. She was a nun and a very talented poet.
It was a great honor for both of them to be chosen. Sigüenza's arch showed images of ancient Aztec rulers. It also included the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli. This was to show the viceroy that Mexico had a rich royal history before the Spanish arrived. Sor Juana's arch used the theme of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. This might have been a clever nod to the viceroy's title, Marquess de la Laguna (Marquess of the Lake). The viceroy became a supporter of Sor Juana's work.
Challenges During His Rule
Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680
During his time as viceroy, a major event happened in New Mexico. About 25,000 Pueblo Indians from 24 villages rose up against the Spanish. This event is known as the Pueblo Revolt. The Native Americans attacked and killed many Europeans. This included colonists, soldiers, and missionaries. Twenty-one Franciscan missionaries were killed on August 10, 1680.
The Pueblo Indians tried to attack Santa Fe, the capital. When that failed, they surrounded the town for ten days. The Spanish who escaped went to Paso del Norte (now Ciudad Juárez). It took 12 years for the Spanish to take back control of the area.
Viceroy de la Cerda later helped to repopulate Santa Fe. He sent 300 Spanish and mestizo families there. He also made Santa Fe a "city," which was the highest title for a settlement. In 1681, he sent soldiers to Nueva Vizcaya, New Spain. They were looking for the rebel Indians, but the rebels avoided fighting. He also made the military bases in the region stronger.
Exploring California: The Otondo Expedition
In 1681, Tomás de la Cerda sent another group to California. This group was led by Captain Isidro Otondo. Their goal was to explore and settle the land. They traveled along the coast of Baja California, reaching La Paz. Then they returned to Navidad, Jalisco.
Three Jesuit missionaries joined this trip. One of them was Father Eusebio Kino. He was from southern Germany. Kino later became famous for his work as a missionary and explorer in Baja California, Sonora, and Arizona. This expedition, like others before it, was not successful. It lasted three years and cost a lot of money.
Pirate Attack on Veracruz
On May 17, 1683, a pirate named Lorencillo attacked Veracruz. He had 800 men with him. The port was not well-protected and quickly fell. The pirates locked the people in churches. Then they robbed the city. They held Veracruz from May 17 to May 23, 1683.
When Spanish soldiers arrived, the pirates quickly left by sea. They took huge amounts of goods and 1,500 hostages. The stolen goods were worth a lot of money. After leaving Veracruz, the pirates went on to attack other places like Campeche and Yucatán.
The Mystery of El Tapado
On May 22, 1683, a man named Antonio Benavides arrived in Veracruz. He was later known as El Tapado, which means "the hidden one." He claimed to be a royal inspector and governor of New Spain. He said he was sent by the Queen Regent, Mariana of Austria.
However, he was arrested in Cuetlaxcoapa (Puebla). He was accused of being one of Lorencillo's pirates. He was taken to Mexico City in chains. On July 12, 1684, he was led to be executed. As he appeared, there was an eclipse of the sun. Many people thought this meant Heaven was unhappy about executing an innocent man. Despite this, he was executed.
Later Life and Legacy
King Charles II extended Viceroy de la Cerda's term for three more years. On November 16, 1686, he handed over his power to the next viceroy, Melchor Portocarrero, 3rd Count of Monclova. Tomás de la Cerda and his wife, María Luisa Manrique de Lara y Gonzaga, were good friends with the famous Mexican poet Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
In 1689, after returning to Spain, he became a member of the Council of the Indies. This was an important group that advised the king on matters related to the Americas. He also became a Grandee of Spain, a very high noble rank. Later, he served as a chief attendant to Queen Mariana of Austria. He passed away on April 22, 1692, in Madrid.
See also
In Spanish: Tomás de la Cerda y Aragón para niños
