Benito Ruíz de Salazar Vallecilla

Benito Ruíz de Salazar (??–1651) was a governor of Spanish Florida two times: from 1645 to 1646 and from 1648 to 1651.

Career

1st Government of Salazar in Florida

Benito Ruíz de Salazar Vallecilla was appointed Royal Governor of Florida on April 10, 1645.^[1] In that year he led an expedition to the north of Apalachee Province, along the lower Chattahoochee River into southwestern Georgia and eastern Alabama.^[2] Ruíz established a farm near the mission San Miguel de Asile that raised wheat, maize and hogs.^[3] He traded for deer skins with the Apalachicola people, and raised mules and horses.^[4]

In 1646, Ruíz established a plan for resettle the former inhabitants of the northern interior mission of Oconi (region also populated by people from Timucua)to the mission of San Diego de Helaca, already that this place was scarsely populated and should become in mayor entrance to Timucua and Apalachee. However, in 1668, San Diego was depopulated (the resettlement of population in Oconi was not established) and Ruíz sent Juan Dominguez to South to looking its cacique and his people. He gathered all the Amerindians found to take them to San Diego. In addition, Ruíz put as law that nobody should abandoning the town without his license. Thus, in July 20, on when in summer the governor received the news that Francisco, the chief of the people of Utiaco had abandoned the place with his people, leaving it deserted and taken to a married woman by force and violence, Ruiz decided to condemn death, leading the club. For this, the governor sent Juan Dominguez at San Antonio and Santa Lucia to execute their decision after the confession, if possible, of the accused.^[5]

In 11 April, 1646^[1] he was removed from office by the Royal Treasurer, Francisco Menéndez Márquez, and the Royal Accountant, Pedro Horruytiner Benedit, for failing to produce a galleon he had contracted to build for the King of Spain. Francisco Menéndez Márquez and Pedro Horruytiner Benedit, ruled together as co-interim governors for the next two years.^[4]

2nd Government of Salazar in Florida

Two years later, in 8 January 1648, Salazar was again appointed governor of Florida.^[1][6][7] Due to substantial assaults, Ruíz expelled to the Chisca Amerindian peoples of Florida, prohibiting their entry to any Florida province, "as people who are foreign, unsettled and wicked". In addition, Ruíz established the death penalty to any Christian cacique who give to this people refuge or harbor. Meanwhile, if an Amerindian murder to a Chisca, he would rewarded him with a bounty of an ax and a hoe. More late, the governor dispatched to then-adjutant Estevez de Carmenatis with substantial troop of infantry to South, scour from Nocoroco to Ibiniuti, in order of kill or capture all the Chisca remaining in the land. Apparently, while Juan Bauptista Terrace ensign was sent as a spy with six soldiers to murder the Timucua chisca he found there. This managed to flee the Timucua people. However, shortly after the Chisca appeared in the north and it was rumored that they were preparing an attack on the Guale coast. Between spring and summer expeditions against the Chisca were made, but the Spanish soldiers were warned not to kill women and youth, as many of them could be Christian Indians kidnapped by chisca in some missions, including some Timucuan Indians. ^{[note 1]}

He served until his death,^[4][6][7] in 14 May 1651.^[1] He died as victim to an epidemic.^[5] So, he was replaced by Nicolás Ponce de León.

Notes

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