Andrés Rodríguez de Villegas
| Andrés Rodríguez Villegas | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Governor of the Province of Margarita | |
| In office 6 June 1619 – 1 June 1626 | |
| Preceded by | Francisco Gutiérrez Flores |
| Succeeded by | Garcia Álvarez de Figueroa |
| Governor of La Florida | |
| In office 23 June 1630 – 21 Sep 1631/1632/1633 | |
| Preceded by | Luis de Rojas y Borja |
| Succeeded by | Nicolás Ponce de León |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Spain |
| Died | 1633 Florida |
| Religion | Catholic |
Andrés Rodríguez Villegas (??-1633) was a Spanish military who exerted as governor and captain-general of the Province of isla Margarita, Venezuela (1619 - 1626) and governor of Florida (1630-1633).
Biography
Andrés Rodríguez de Villegas was born in Spain, but the year of his birth is unknown. Villegas entered the body of Spanish infantry in 1604, later becoming Captain. He sailed in Moluccas, the Philippines and other places where he obtained the rank of Almiral of the South Sea (Pacific Ocean). Later he came to isla de Margarita, Venezuela, where he was appointed governor on June 6, 1619. After that was given 1500 ducats in salary, payable to the Royal Treasury of the Cabildo of Asuncion. After taking office on 1 August of that year, the first thing he did was write to the king, to inform him of the need to improve the fortifications of the island and also to criticize the fortifications of Araya (where the Dutch were taking real cargoes of salt[1]) to be built in at that time.
In April 1623 in Araya, Villegas met with the governor of Nueva Andalucía, Diego de Arroyo and military engineers Daza and Juan Bautista Antonelli Antonelli, Cristobal Roda, to define the criteria to be deprived in the fortification to be built. Governor Rodríguez presented a project, but prevails submitted by Roda. That same year, Rodriguez sent Spain a plan of your project, but in 1625 he informed the king that this building collapsed due to the king's refusal to accept its recommendations to remove the foundation from the beach, hugging the ground with walls.[2]
In the Dutch invasion of the island on 22 February, Villegas decided immediately left the city Pampatar with reinforcements. In addition, he sent 20 soldiers and 12 Guaiqueri bowmen to Santiago, where were Dutch troops, and he personally commanded them. The soldiers refused to join him, however, when he attacked santiago. After see the main Dutch landing party from east he abandoned the attempt. The Dutch vessels attempted a landing in the harbour of Pueblo de la Mar but the Villegas´s troops, prevented this. Several Dutch soldiers died where they attempted landing. [3]
Then he turned over command of Margarita Island to Garcia Álvarez de Figueroa, June 1, 1626.
According to the Royal Court, he was a just ruler and zealous in the affairs of administration and justice. [2] Later, in 23 June 1630, Villegas was appointed governor of Florida, [4] a position he held until his death[2] in 21 Sep 1631/ 1632 or 1633.[4]
References
- ↑ Ossott, Willy. 1969. Castillos coloniales Araya - La Asunción - Pampatar Venezuela. Publicaciones de la Junta de Fomento Turístico de la Corporación Venezolana de Fomento. Caracas-Venezuela 166p.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Venezuelatuya: Andrés Rodríguez Villegas. Hasta la independencia (In Spanish: Until independence)
- ↑ The Attack on the Island Margarita. Retrieved in July 23, 2014, to 19:14pm.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 U.S. States F-K.