Hernando Martel

Hernando Martel
Don Hernando Martel.
Born	c. 1515 Seville, Spain
Died	Lagos de Moreno, New Spain

Hernando Martel (fl. 16th century) was a Spanish nobleman and military officer, born in Seville, Spain. He conquered and pacified much of the region known today as Lagos de Moreno.

During the administration of the Viceroy of New Spain, Luis de Velasco, several towns came into being in the Kingdom of Nueva Galicia for the primary purpose of consolidating their defenses against the Chichimec raids. One of these was Santa Maria de los Lagos, which the Royal Audience, headed by Licenciado Alonso de Oceguera, ordered established on January 5, 1563. The Audience requested that the "Most Illustrious Lord, Don Hernando Martel, Mayor of Teocaltiche and the Plains of Zacatecas," carry out the foundation with seventy-three noble families from Spain as colonists. In addition to the signature of the founder in the founding document, are those of the Br. Valadés, a priest, Don Juan de Arrona, the Royal Scribe, Don Juan de Malaga, Don Alonso Macías Valadés, and Don Diego Romo de Vivar. The first alcaldes and regidores were elected shortly after the founding, on July 25, 1563.

Captain Martel founded the village in the Spanish style, in the remains of the Chichimeca and Caxcan cultures. He continued the work undertaken by Juan de Tolosa: tirelessly touring the Chichimeca lands. He participated in the war known as the Mixtón Rebellion, as an officer under the command of Juan de Villalba. He helped to stifle rebellions in places as far away as Compostela. To reward him for his services to the Spanish Crown, half of the Indians of Tepeque were given to him as an encomienda.