| Manuel de Cendoya | |
|---|---|
| 24º Governor of La Florida | |
| In office 1670–1673 |
|
| Preceded by | Francisco de la Guerra y de la Vega |
| Succeeded by | Nicolás Ponce de León II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | early XVII century |
| Died | 1673 |
| Profession | Soldier and Political |
Manuel de Cendoya (?? - 1673) was a Soldier and the governor of Florida between 1670 and 1675. His rule was based on the reconstruction of the Castillo de San Marcos, as Fortress to try to prevent British invasion in Florida.
Manuel de Cendoya born in the early seventeenth century. As a youth, he joined the Spanish army, where he learned military engineering. He fought in the capture of fortifications in Extremadura, Guipúzcoa, Flanders and Italy. Later, Manuel de Cendoya was appointed royal governor of Florida in 1670. However, before taking office, he went to Mexico in November of that year to collect funds and consultation with the Viceroy Mancera and military engineers building the new fort in Florida, because the old was four bastions made of wood and fagin, this was very close to the beach which the waves were eroding and decaying. Also, could no longer be repaired because the wood had to bring it from far away on the backs of the natives and they had made that the chiefs were rebelled. The new fort was made of stone, modeled on the earlier draft of wood. Cendoya even suggested making four small Casemates: Two to guard the entrance of St. Augustine, one in Santa Catalina de la Frontera in the north and one in San Marcos de Apalache; The boards of War approved the project, but not the funds.[1] Since that Cendoya sat in his office, in 1671, he already gave orders for the trace of the fort and the Castillo de San Marcos.[2]
One hundred and fifty Native Americans were hired as laborers, some to carry the coquina from "Island Quarry" in Anastasia, others bringing firewood to make shells and lime, and fifty to open the floor and clean the ground working with picks, shovels and tools that were made there, in the village smithy. Cendoya got fifteen teachers cutters, masons and calciners, including Lorenzo Lagunes, who was the master builder of construction and he sure knew the works of fortification that were built in Europe. Cendoya died unexpectedly in 1673 and was replaced by Nicolás Ponce de León II as acting governor of Florida. The Castle of San Marcos, will generate a recovery in all facets of life St. Augustine, and of course, in the population. Starting this moment, entered a period that will bloom until the early eighteenth century.[1] He died in 1673.