Pedro Rodríguez Cubero

Pedro Rodríguez Cubero (baptized on July 29, 1656 – died 1704) was a Spanish admiral who was governor of New Mexico between 1697 and 1703.

Biography

Pedro Rodríguez Cubero was born Huéscar (Granada, Spain) and was baptized on July 29, 1656. He was son of Antonio Rodríguez Cubero and María González Solá.

On June 20, 1674, he was joined to Spanish Army, specifically the infantry of the Armada de El Mar Oceano (Ocean Sea´s Army), starting as a common soldier, a musketman. Eventually, he was he was promoted to admiral.

That year I left the Catalan coast to go to Sicily, one at that time a Spanish possession, in order to quell an expedition in Messina. Later. Fought Curbero three battles against the French at the galleon Our installment buyings Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza. June 17, 1689, Curbero obtained from King Charles II of Spain office of governor and captain lifetime of the of San Salvador de la Punta Fortress, in Havana, Cuba.

He was appointed Captain General and Governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México in June 6, 1692 by the King Charles II, in place of Diego de Vargas. Although Cubero rejected the charge, arguing that, based on the news that he had, the climate of New Mexico was very cold and could harm your health, your request was rejected. However, in 1697, Curbero was in Mexico City and he was headed to New Mexico to assume the governorship of that province, settling in Santa Fe and taking office on July 2, 1697.^[1]

In this year Curbero participated in an expedition to Zuni people.^[2] In 1699, Curbero visited villages in the west. Two years later, in 1701, after the destruction of Aguatuvi, by the Amerindians, Cubero fought against them, killing some and capturing several people from the peple. While the government Curbero, freeing the captive end later. Cubero fined enmity that council officials of Santa Fe and formal charges filed against Vargas. Officials and formal charges said the former governor had played with the embezzlement of money, causing hostilities between the years 1694-1696, and had led the New Mexican population to famine of 1695-96, due to poor economic management by Vargas and bad distributing food supplies among the colonists. Thus, he was convicted and he was forced to pay a fine of four thousand dollars to cover the demand, all his property was confiscated and was incarcerated in a prison for almost three years. So Vargas was forbidden to present their case to the Viceroy. Only at the end of his sentence the king decided to accept the request for Vargas to get the government of New Mexico for the second time. So, despite the accusations and his earlier imprisonment, King publicly announced its thanks to Vargas and appointed him again as Governor of New Mexico (since he should occupy three years after the end of the mandate of Rodríguez Cubero, or before, if the office is vacant), plus a choice of either the noble titles of Marquis and Earl.^[1]

It is known in 1703 (at least in February), Curbelo grant lands to, at least, some people (as to Juana Baca).^[3]

In August 1703, Curbero heard the news that Vargas was in Mexico City and was headed to Santa Fe to take the charge of governor of New Mexico. Fearing that Vargas would avenge him because of his imprisonment, his fine and seizure of his property that he (Curbelo) had done, he decided to leave New Mexico and flee to Mexico City, with the excuse that he was going to fight Amerindians. He died there in 1704.^[1] Diego de Vargas started his ruled in New Mexico at the end of 1703.

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