Francisco Martínez de Baeza

Francisco Martínez de Baeza was a colonial governor of New Mexico between November 1634 and 18 April 1637. He was heavily criticized for rejecting the participation of Franciscan missions in the territory, for impeding the conversion of indigenous people to Christianity, and for exploiting the labor of these people.

Biography

Although it is unknown when and where he was born, it is believed that he was born in Seville, Spain.

He was appointed governor of Spain's New Mexico colony and installed in that office in late November 1634. His sole purpose as governor, once in the province, was to exploiting labor for Hispanic settlers, especially the Amerindians (who were slaves, along with Africans in the Spanish colonies). Once in power, he organized a series of commercial companies, paying little attention to his duties in the province (as to maintain peace in the region between Indians and settlers). Martínez de Baeza forced the Amerindians to gather pine nuts and trade in manufactures (specifically with furs, fabrics and cotton blankets). Their demands were so important that some people were forced to negotiate with other nations to get the cotton needed in order to manufacture the fabric required. Thus, a worker received in exchange of his work a very low wage. In late 1636, the governor had already manufactured enough to send go south of New Spain in nine wagons for the purpose of finding trade opportunities. The Amerindians had to work every day, even on holidays that celebrated religious events. Martínez de Baeza paid little interest to the Franciscan missions, making it difficult for American Indians to convert to Christianity. Neither did he give attention to Amerindian attacks against settlers and their descendants, resulting in his denouncement by the Franciscans.

On 24 September 1636, the Franciscan custodian, fray Cristóbal de Quirós, explained to Martínez de Baeza his decision to establish missions in Zuni Pueblo. However, Martínez de Baeza rejected the demand, under the pretext that he should request it in a more respectful manner. The Franciscan explained that the parcels and money needed by the Pueblos already had been delivered to pay the military escorts. However, the Governor asked the Father Quiros a proof of his assertions, already knowing that the Franciscans themselves had decided that conversion to Christianity was to be made apostolic and to never use military force. Therefore, in November 1636, both Cristóbal de Quirós and the Fray Antonio de Ibargaray sent a packet of letters of protest against Martínez de Baeza to the Viceroy Lope Díez de Armendáriz in Mexico City. Martínez de Baeza wrote a series of reports containing false information about certain religions and his only intention was to discredit them with the viceroy of New Spain.

His rule ended on 18 April 1637, leaving the colony in the hands of Luis de Rosas, who established it in Mexico City.^[1]

Last years

In Mexico City, on 11 December 1639, he made his testament leaving a bequest of fifty pesos to the Cofradía del Santísimo Sacramento of the parish of San Marcos in Seville. and other money to cover any debts that apparently had with Sevillian merchants.^[1]

References