Juan de Mendoza y Luna, Marquis of Montesclaros

Juan de Mendoza y Luna, 3rd Marquess of Montesclaros (January, 1571 – October 9, 1628) was a Spanish nobleman, man of letters, and the tenth viceroy of New Spain. He governed from October 27, 1603 to July 2, 1607. Thereafter he was viceroy of Peru, from December 21, 1607 to December 18, 1615. After returning to Spain, he became advisor to the king and a high official in the Court.

Arms of Juan de Mendoza y Luna
Arms of Juan de Mendoza y Luna
Juan de Mendoza y Luna
Marquis of Montesclaros
10th Viceroy of New Spain
In office
October 26, 1603 – July 2, 1607
MonarchPhilip II
Preceded byGaspar de Zúñiga Acevedo y Fonseca
Succeeded byLuis de Velasco
11th Viceroy of Peru
In office
December 21, 1607 – December 18, 1615
Preceded byDiego Núñez de Avendaño
Succeeded byFrancisco de Borja y Aragón
Personal details
BornJanuary 1571
Guadalajara
Died9 October 1628
Madrid
ParentLuis de Velasco y Ruiz de Alarcón & Isabel Manrique de Padilla

Youth and early career

Juan de Mendoza y Luna was born in Guadalajara in January 1571.[1] He was the posthumous son of the 2nd Marqués de Montesclaros.[2] He was raised by his mother, Isabel Manrique de Padilla.

He served with distinction in the army of the Duke of Alba in the Portuguese campaign, as a captain of lancers. For his service, he was awarded the Order of Caballero de Santiago in 1591. Later he was governor of Seville, where he first became acquainted with the affairs of the Indies. On May 19, 1603 the Crown named him viceroy of New Spain.

As viceroy of New Spain

He made his formal entry into Mexico City on October 26, 1603, accompanied by his wife Ana de Mendoza, and assumed the reins of government. He immediately accused his predecessor, Gaspar de Zúñiga y Acevedo, Count of Monterrey of excessive spending and of exceeding his authority. Plans to colonize Alta California in the wake of Sebastián Vizcaíno's exploration were cancelled.[3]

In August 1604 there was another major inundation of Mexico City. Damage was extensive. The viceroy initially suggested moving the capital to the nearby hills of Tacubaya, but this was deemed too expensive. Then he decided to finish the drainage canal of Huehuetoca, but this was a project requiring many years and the labor of 15,000 Indians to complete. In the meantime he repaired the dikes constructed under Viceroy Luís de Velasco, at the same time paving the streets of San Antonio Abad, Chapultepec, San Cristóbal and Guadalupe. Nevertheless, parts of the city remained submerged for a year.

Mendoza y Luna also constructed an aqueduct on stone arches that conducted water from the springs on Chapultepec to the center of the city. He cleaned the water channels and paved many streets with cobbles.

He lifted restrictions on Indians returning to their land to live.

Later career and death

On November 20, 1606, Mendoza y Luna was named viceroy of Peru, with instructions to remain in New Spain until the arrival of his successor. The new viceroy, Luis de Velasco, 1st Marquess of Salinas del Río Pisuerga, arrived in July of the following year, and Mendoza sailed from Acapulco for Lima in that month.

He served as viceroy of Peru until 1615. During his government in Lima the famous Stone Bridge and the Alameda de los Descalzos of that city were built. He returned to Spain the following year, and served as counselor of state and of war. In 1621 King Philip IV made him a grandee of Spain. Subsequently, he was president of the Council of Hacienda (treasury) (1623-1626), and also of the Council of Aragon (1628).

He died in Madrid on October 9, 1628,[4] at the age of 57.

References
Citations
  1. Carlos Morales, Carlos J. de (2019). "El III Marqués de Montesclaros en la corte de Felipe IV: Presidente del Consejo de Hacienda y Consejero de Estado (1571-1628)". Libros de la Corte. Madrid: UAM Ediciones (18): 61. doi:10.15366/ldc2019.11.18.003. hdl:10486/687949. ISSN 1989-6425. S2CID 198658559.
  2. Carlos Morales 2019, p. 61.
  3. Cutter, Donald C. (1978). "Plans for the Occupation of Upper California. A New Look at the "Dark Age" from 1602 to 1769". The Journal of San Diego History. San Diego, CA: San Diego History Center. 24 (1). Archived from the original on 2009-06-06.
  4. Carlos Morales 2019, p. 76.
Bibliography
  • (in Spanish)"Juan de Mendoza y Luna". Real Academia de la Historia. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  • (in Spanish) García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, v. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984.
  • (in Spanish) Orozco L., Fernando, Fechas Históricas de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1988, ISBN 968-38-0046-7.
  • (in Spanish) Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.
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