Diego de Peñalosa

Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa Briceño y Berdugo (1621–1687) was the Lima-born governor of Spanish New Mexico in 1661–1664, following his appointment to replace Bernardo López de Mendizábal in 1660.

Peñalosa's administration, notable for its positive treatment of the Pueblo Indians and their religious practices, earned him the enmity of the Roman Catholic fiars determined to Christianize the native population and exploit free Indian labor, and he was declared a blasphemer and heretic by a Catholic tribunal. Forced into exile, he became an active opponent of Spanish interests and offered his services to England and France, Spain's rivals in the colonization of the New World.

Biography

Early life

Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa Briceño y Berdugo was in Lima, Perú in 1621. During a long time work in the imperial bureaucracy.^[1] He held various political positions in the Viceroyalty of Peru.^[2] However, he was accused of misconduct, which forced him to flee the viceroyalty, to avoid arrest,^[1] settling in New Spain. There, in Mexico, he joined the army, becoming lieutenant captain-general regional.^[1] In the Mexican city of Michoacán, he was able to occupy the office of mayor, or royal administrator. subsequently, in year 1660, the Viceroy of New Spain, Juan de Leyva de la Cerda, appointed him governor of the then province New Mexico.^[2]

New Mexico Government

He arrived to province in 1661. After arriving in New Mexico, already in his government, he and Fray Alonso de Posada, who was appointed priest of the province in the same year, began to investigate corruption and abuse of power by the previous governor, Bernardo López de Mendizábal. Thus, Peñalosa asked New Mexico residents who report any complaints they had with the governor, receiving in the next 30 days more than 70 complaints. Thanks to that, in 1662 the civil hearing and the Inquisition in Mexico, condemned as guilty to Mendizabal due to his bad behavior in the province. However, Mendizabal died in prison before the final verdict is reached.^[2]

On the other hand, in his government, Peñalosa allowed that the Amerindians could keep their cultures, which earned him the enmity of the friars, who tried to subdue the indigenous to European culture and Catholic religion. In addition, prohibited Indian slavery, putting the law of that Amerindians were paid for their work, like the settlers. In addition, servants and Amerindians assistants that will were use by the friars also have to pay a tribute.

By 1663 there was a dispute between Peñalosa and Posada, because the first one was suspicious of the church. Thus, Posada excommunicated him, causing that Peñalosa threatened him to arrest and deport the custos, while questioned the authority of the Inquisition. Thus, Peñalosa took him prisoner to his home of governor in Santa Fe. Therefore, Posada send a message to the Office of the Inquisition in Mexico City in which he wrote a list of errors committed by Peñalosa consciously, among which he mentioned his desire to get Lopez de Mendizabal's property and his arrest of the custodian. In addition, he also mentioned the oppressions to which him had subjected to the Amerindians.^[1]

After nine days, the two retracted of the threats exercised against the other.^[2] However, messages had already been sent to the Office of the Inquisition. For not to be tried by the Inquisition, he fled to Mexico City. However, it was found and arrested by the Inquisition. in 1665, the Holy Inquisition confiscated their property and prohibited him from returning to exercise civil or military office and go into exile from New Spain.^[1][2]

Last years

When left New Spain, he went to London to propose to Charles II of England an alliance between them, in case of that England was thinking in an invasion of the Spanish America. however, his idea was rejected. So in 1678, traveled to France. Since then and for several years proposed to the King of France, Louis XIV, the colonization of differents zones of North of New Spain, such as Quivira and Teguayo counting on your help. However, the king always declined his offer. He died in France in 1687.^[1][2]

The Quivira Expedition

On March 6, 1662, during his government in New Mexico, Don Diego de Peñalosa left the province in order to find and conquer Quivira, a land that according to some legends who knew the conquerors, had abundancy riches. Many Spanish soldiers and thousands of Amerindians allies traveled to the region. Already there, met a group of indigenous people welcomed him. Despite this, at night, the Escanzaque tribe killed, plundered, and burned in the Spanish camp. The next morning, he found the burned village and many of his soldiers dying, so sad returned to New Mexico. However, this expedition to Quivira by Penalosa is filled with wonderful items over time that make it unreliable. The only historically documented is a Penalosa's expedition in an area that he said he was Quivira.^[3]

Personal life

He married on three occasions. Thus, after leaving Peru, he married Maria Ramirez de Vargas, who bore him two sons. After the death of Vargas, married Jacoba de los Ríos y Cabrera. After he left New Spain, he married another woman in France.^[1]

References