| Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo | |
|---|---|
| 15ºGovernor of the Spanish Colony of Texas | |
| In office 1736 – 1737 |
|
| Preceded by | Manuel de Sandoval |
| Succeeded by | Prudencio de Orobio y Basterra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1691 Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain |
| Died | Unknown Mexico or Spain |
| Spouse(s) | Ángela de Alarcón y Ocaña |
| Profession | Political |
Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo, (1691–?) was a Spanish governor of Texas between 1736 - 1737.
Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo, was born in La Orotava, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) in 1691. When he was young, he moved to Havana, Cuba, where he married Ángela de Alarcón y Ocaña. Later, in 1736 Philip V appointed him governor of the province of Tlaxcala, Mexico. However, when Franquis arrived in Mexico, he discovered that the office of governor of Tlaxcala not was yet vacant, as that this, still was being exercised by his predecessor. Because at the moment, Franquis could not yet exercise this office, the Viceroy, Archbishop Vizarrón decided to appoint him governor ad interim of Texas for him to work with Manuel de Sandoval and will he help him to improve its policy in that province. On 26 September the same year (1736), he came to San Antonio. Franquis refused to show the credentials that saw him governor ad interim of that province, and from the beginning he rejected to the civil and religious authorities. Thus losing, all respect that could have had him the missionaries of San Antonio and Los Adaes. Between the years that he ruled Texas (1736–37), he took over the roles of Sandoval, he filed criminal charges against him, accusing him of seven counts of official misconduct, and later he sent it to prison. To all this must be added that his economic mismanagement led to the province nearly to bankrupt.[1] But not all his actions in Texas were negative. He decided to implement the first dula to the distribution of river waters. The fact that a dula correspond to San Antonio with a day of water is similar to custom of Tenerife. Those suggests in the involvement of the canarian governor in the institutionalization of the distribution of water during the early years of colonization.[2] Shortly thereafter, took place an investigation which ended on July 9, 1737, with the arrest of the politician, accused by his arrogant behavior. In September 1737 he stepped down as governor and he retired to San Juan Bautista, California, where he defected and settled in Mexico City. After several years in court, he finally won him. A little later, he settled in Veracruz, Mexico, and he became an officer of the garrison of that city. Finally, he returned to the regiment of Savoy in Spain. The place and date on which he died is not known. However, it is thought that he had to have died in Mexico or Spain.[1]