Luis de Velasco
| Luís de Velasco | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Viceroy of New Spain | |
|
In office November 25, 1550 – July 31, 1564 |
|
| Monarch | Charles I of Spain |
| Preceded by | Antonio de Mendoza |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Ceinos |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Luís de Velasco y Ruiz de Alarcón c. 1511 Carrión de los Condes, Palencia, Spain |
| Died | July 31, 1564 (aged 52–53) Mexico City, Viceroyalty of New Spain |
Luís de Velasco (1511 – July 31, 1564) was the second viceroy of New Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the mid-sixteenth century.
Velasco was born in the town of Carrión de los Condes, in the province of Palencia, in 1511. The son of a wealthy nobleman, Velasco received formal education at a young age. By 1547, he had become viceroy and leader of Spain's armed forces in the Kingdom of Navarre.
Impressed with Velasco's achievements and loyalty to the Spanish crown, Emperor Charles V (King Charles I of Spain) sent him to New Spain, in 1550, to deal with problems in the Spanish colonies, among them slavery and the encomienda system. He was accompanied by his son, Luis de Velasco, marqués de Salinas, himself a future viceroy of New Spain. Velasco replaced the previous viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza.
Mendoza had been given his choice of the Viceroyalty of Mexico or of Peru, with Velasco to fill the other office. Velasco arrived at San Juan de Ulúa, New Spain on August 23, 1550. He spent the month of September in Puebla, while Mendoza was making his choice. Finally the two men decided to meet in Cholula, and there Mendoza chose Peru. On November 25, 1550, Velasco made his official entry into Mexico City, thus becoming Viceroy of New Spain. He served until his death there on July 31, 1564.
Velasco helped the natives defend themselves against the abuses of gold-mining slave owners, and released 15,000 Indian slaves. On January 25, 1553, Velasco inaugurated the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico. He commissioned the founding of the towns of San Miguel el Grande (now San Miguel de Allende), Durango (1563), San Felipe de Ixtlahuaca, and Nombre de Dios. He also instituted public services such as hospitals and law enforcement for the natives.
...
Wikipedia