Felipe de Sotelo Osorio

Felipe de Sotelo Osorio
5th Spanish governor of New Mexico
In office December 21, 1625 (assumed the charge in Feb. 6 1626) – 1630
Preceded by	Juan de Eulate
Succeeded by	Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto
Personal details
Born	unknown unknown
Died	unknown unknown
Profession	Admiral and Governor of New Mexico

Felipe de Sotelo Osorio was a Spanish military leader who served as Governor of New Mexico between 1625 and 1630.

Felipe de Sotelo Osorio joined the Spanish Navy in his youth, eventually becoming an Admiral.

He was appointed Governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México on 21 December 1625. In 1625, Sotelo Osorio, along with Fray Alonso de Benavides, left Mexico and traveled over 1500 miles by foot to Santa Fe, New Mexico, arriving in Santa Fe on 6 February 1626.

After becoming governor, Sotelo rejected the Roman Catholic Church that he viewed as a dictatorship, thus provoking clashes with the institution.

It is said that Sotelo once joined a Catholic ceremony in a cemetery and reproached his soldiers for not standing in his presence. The soldiers tried to explain that they could not get up during the Sanctus, but Sotelo angrily insisted that they must always be erect in his presence. Sotelo also said that if he was excommunicated by the church, he would force his own acquittal within two hours. These public blasphemies resulted in charges.

Felipe de Sotelo Osorio was replaced by Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto in 1630.

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