Luis Sánchez de Tagle, 1st Marquis of Altamira

The Most Illustrious The Marquess of Altamira
Luis Sánchez de Tagle, Marquis of Altamira
Born	1642
Spouse(s)	Damiana de Dávila y Rojas
Children	Luisa Sánchez de Tagle
Parent(s)	Anselmo Sánchez de Tagle Juliana de la Rasa Barreda

Don Luis Sánchez de Tagle y de la Rasa, 1st Marquis of Altamira (1642 - 1710) was a Spanish aristocrat who gained great wealth and influence in New Spain during the 17th century.

Don Luis was born on 1642 in Santillana, Spain. He was the son of Don Anselmo Sánchez de Tagle and his second wife, Doña Juliana de la Rasa Barreda. Through his father, he was a member of the House of Tagle, one of Spain's most important noble families whose origins can be traced back during the 6th century in the Kingdom of Asturias. At a very young age he left Spain and migrated to New Spain, now Mexico, amassed great power and influence.

Don Luis became the most successful and richest man in New Spain by the end of the 17th century. He had many businesses in the commercial market and held the greatest influence as the financier and buyer of the silver mines. as well as investing in large haciendas in northern Mexico. He wielded the greatest influence in the realm as well as outside it as branch members of his family also held great influence in other Spanish colonies such as Peru, Guatemala, Chile leading all the way to the Philippines (the Tagle family AND the Pérez de Tagle family whose descendants include Don Carlos Preysler Pérez de Tagle of the Banco Español-Filipino and his daughter Isabel Preysler), where Manila was one of the greatest commercial hubs of the Spanish Empire.

So great was his wealth that he was able to lend the Spanish Crown 850,000 silver pesos from 1683 to 1698. Between 1700 and 1703, Don Luis was able to lend 500,000 pesos de oro común to the dynasty of Spain's new king, Philip V, the first Spanish king from the House of Bourbon. In gratitude for his loyalty to the Spanish crown, King Philip V granted him the title of 1st Marquis of Altamira, reflecting his good standing in this new dynasty.

The Marquis of Altamira, together with the Marquis of Santa Sabina and the Marquis of Santa Fe, composed the triumvirate which represented the Consulado of Seville and together they defended the interests of the Spanish fleet merchants in New Spain.

The House of Tagle led by the Marquis of Altamira also involved itself in the Philippines. A branch of the family migrated to the colony and ensured the family's influence over the country. Also, with the family ties to the colony, they managed to create a strong relationship with Fausto Cruzat, who served as the Governor General to the Philippines beginning in 1688. This relationship resulted in the engagement of Cruzat's daughtern Doña Ignacia, to Don Domingo Ruiz de Tagle, Marquis of Sierra Nevada who was the nephew of Don Luis. Don Domingo Ruiz de Tagle stayed in the Philippines starting 1708 and served as the General of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade.