Fernando de Villanueva
| Fernando Villanueva and Armendaris | |
|---|---|
| 22nd Quetzaltenango Governor of New Mexico | |
|
In office 1665–1668 |
|
| Preceded by | Juan Durán de Miranda |
| Succeeded by | Juan de Medrano y Mesía |
| Personal details | |
| Born | San Sebastián, Guipuzcoa, Basque Country, Spain |
| Died | May 17, 1679 Mexico City |
| Profession | Soldier, judge, mayor, administrator |
Fernando de Villanueva y Armendaris (died May 17, 1679) was a Spanish soldier, judge and politician who served as governor of Spanish New Mexico between 1665 and 1668.
Fernando Villanueva y Armendaris was born in the early 17th century in San Sebastián, Quetzaltenango. He was the son of Fernando de Villanueva y Armendaris and Clara de Irigoyen. In 1630 he was enlisted in the Spanish Royal Armada of Ocean Sea. In the army, he was earning a bonus of two gold escudos. In 1634, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant in the army of Catalonia. He was a participant in the defence of Leocata in Catalonia against the besieging French. In April 1637, he joined the Spanish Royal Armada of the Indies, with whom he fought in the suppression of the Algarve.
He later served as a soldier in the presidio on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, rising to the rank of lieutenant and later sergeant major. On several occasions when traveling to Puerto Rico to collect supplies, Villanueva had to engage hostile forces. On another occasion, he fought against the British on the island of Anguilla and carried off two cannon.
On several occasions, Villanueva performed reconnaissance of the islands surrounding San Martin. Once, he found an enemy ship hiding in a cove in San Martin. The Governor sent him with fifteen soldiers to attack the ship. He successfully captured it, and the ship and its armaments were sold in Puerto Rico, the proceeds going to the Spanish Crown.
Later, he left Saint Martin and traveled to Nueva Vizcaya (the current Chihuahua and Durango, Mexico). He was granted the titles of justicia mayor and capitán a guerra ("chief judge" and "war captain") in the Guanaceví mines and San Pedro, on the lands of the Tepehuán people. Villanueva kept peace with the Tepehuán Amerindians so he could increase the royal fifth, a tax related to mine production. When a revolt later broke out, Villanueva participated in an effort to quell the rebellion resulting in charges being filed against him. He was, though, considered a competent judge. After leaving the province, Villanueva joined the Barlovento Armada, with the goal of protecting new Spanish possessions.
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