Francisco Romá y Rosell
Encyclopedia
Francico Romá y Rosell (b. Mataró
, Spain
, died 1784) was a Spanish royal official in Valladolid
and New Spain. He was the first regent of the Real Audiencia of Mexico
. In this capacity, after the death of Viceroy Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa
and before the arrival of his successor, Martín de Mayorga
, Romá served as interim governor of the colony from April 9, 1779 to August 23, 1779.
. He practiced as a lawyer in Barcelona
, and then entered the royal civil service. Over a long career he served in Catalonia
, Castile
and New Spain
.
He was a member of the Royal Academy of Experimental Physics and Agriculture of Barcelona
. In 1766 he edited Disertación histórico-político-legal para los Colegios y Gremios de la Ciudad de Barcelona (Historical-Political-Legal Dissertation for the Associations and Professions of Barcelona), in which he attempted to show the benefits of the professions for the improvement of public order, the laudable customs of the artisans, and the quality of manufactures in the city. In 1768 he published Señales de la felicidad de España y medios de hacerlos eficaces (Signs of the Happiness of Spain and Means to Make It More Effective). In this latter work he argued that the development of agriculture, industry and commerce was needed to move Spain out of its current state of decadence. In a passage later quoted by other authors, he said:
Also in this book he argued for the expropriation of unused land.http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:-sAsD1n-4GUJ:www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/anth595b/Ruettefinal.htm+%22Francisco+Rom%C3%A1+y+Rosell%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=14
In 1769 he was named alcalde de hijosdalgo in the Chancellery of Valladolid
. In 1771 he was promoted to the criminal chamber of the court, and just four years after that he became an oidor
(civil judge).
, on February 13, 1548.) In addition to functioning as a court of last resort
, the Audiencia oidores also exercised important legislative and executive powers in the government of New Spain. In turn, the viceroy in one of his ex oficio positions served as the president of the Audiencia. This gave him important judicial powers along with his executive and legislative ones. (The viceroy could only set the agenda of the court. Only if a viceroy was a trained lawyer could he rule on cases before the audiencia.) The Crown had shown a strong preference for military men as viceroys, and those that did not have a military background generally had an ecclesiastical one. None were lawyers.
A royal decree of March 11, 1776 initiated what became known as the Great Judicial Reform of 1776 in the Indies. Under these reforms
, the Audiencia become more independent of the viceroy. He was no longer the presiding officer. That function was taken over by the newly created regent of the Audiencia. Romá y Rosell became the first regent of the Audiencia of Mexico.
. But shortly after his arrival, he was thrust into a position of greater responsibility by the death of Viceroy Bucareli. Romá y Rosell served as interim governor of the colony from early April to late August 1779.
Twelve days before he turned over the office to Martín de Mayorga, news was received in Mexico City of Spain's declaration of war against Britain
. It fell to Romá y Rosell to begin the preparations to put New Spain on a war footing. The new viceroy, when he arrived, approved his actions.
Mataró
Mataró is the capital and largest city of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Community, Spain. It is located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, to the north-east of Barcelona. , it...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, died 1784) was a Spanish royal official in Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
and New Spain. He was the first regent of the Real Audiencia of Mexico
Real Audiencia of Mexico
The Royal Audience of Mexico was the highest tribunal of the Spanish crown in the Kingdom of New Spain or the Kingdom of Mexico...
. In this capacity, after the death of Viceroy Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa
Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa
Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, marqués de Valleheroso y conde de Jerena was a Spanish military officer, governor of Cuba, and viceroy of New Spain .-Beginning of his administration:He was governor of Cuba when he was named viceroy...
and before the arrival of his successor, Martín de Mayorga
Martín de Mayorga
Martín de Mayorga Ferrer was a Spanish military officer, governor of the Captaincy General of Guatemala , and interim viceroy of New Spain .Martín de Mayorga Ferrer was a field marshal in the royal army of Spain, and a knight of the military Order of Alcántara...
, Romá served as interim governor of the colony from April 9, 1779 to August 23, 1779.
Early career and writings
Romá y Rosell received a doctorate in laws in HuescaHuesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
. He practiced as a lawyer in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, and then entered the royal civil service. Over a long career he served in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
and New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
.
He was a member of the Royal Academy of Experimental Physics and Agriculture of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. In 1766 he edited Disertación histórico-político-legal para los Colegios y Gremios de la Ciudad de Barcelona (Historical-Political-Legal Dissertation for the Associations and Professions of Barcelona), in which he attempted to show the benefits of the professions for the improvement of public order, the laudable customs of the artisans, and the quality of manufactures in the city. In 1768 he published Señales de la felicidad de España y medios de hacerlos eficaces (Signs of the Happiness of Spain and Means to Make It More Effective). In this latter work he argued that the development of agriculture, industry and commerce was needed to move Spain out of its current state of decadence. In a passage later quoted by other authors, he said:
People no longer try to buy sturdy, heavy clothes that can be passed on to their great-grandchildren. No long does anyone say, "I wore out two pairs of sleeves on this coat". Everyone is pleased to wear light clothes, whose low price allows them the satisfaction of following the fashion, which changes every year. (1768 edition, pp. 160-161).http://www.unizar.es/eueez/cahe/presentacion.pdf
Also in this book he argued for the expropriation of unused land.http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:-sAsD1n-4GUJ:www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/anth595b/Ruettefinal.htm+%22Francisco+Rom%C3%A1+y+Rosell%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=14
In 1769 he was named alcalde de hijosdalgo in the Chancellery of Valladolid
Royal Audiencia and Chancillería of Valladolid
The Royal Audiencia and Chancellería of Valladolid was a Spanish judicial institution set up in Valladolid in 1371, with jurisdiction over all of the territories of the Crown of Castile. It was the first Spanish audiencia to be established...
. In 1771 he was promoted to the criminal chamber of the court, and just four years after that he became an oidor
Oidor
Oidor is the Spanish name of the member judge of the Royal Audiencias and Chancillerías, originally courts of Kingdom of Castile, which became the highest organs of justice within the Spanish Empire...
(civil judge).
As first regent of the Audiencia of Mexico
The Audiencia was a longstanding governmental institution in New Spain. (The first audiencia in the colony was created on December 13, 1527 and the secondReal Audiencia of Guadalajara
The Real Audiencia of Guadalajara was the highest tribunal of the Spanish crown in what is today northern Mexico and the southwestern United States in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was created by royal decree on February 13, 1548, and was originally located in Compostela and permanently seated...
, on February 13, 1548.) In addition to functioning as a court of last resort
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, the Audiencia oidores also exercised important legislative and executive powers in the government of New Spain. In turn, the viceroy in one of his ex oficio positions served as the president of the Audiencia. This gave him important judicial powers along with his executive and legislative ones. (The viceroy could only set the agenda of the court. Only if a viceroy was a trained lawyer could he rule on cases before the audiencia.) The Crown had shown a strong preference for military men as viceroys, and those that did not have a military background generally had an ecclesiastical one. None were lawyers.
A royal decree of March 11, 1776 initiated what became known as the Great Judicial Reform of 1776 in the Indies. Under these reforms
Bourbon Reforms
The Bourbon Reforms were a set of economic and political legislation introduced by the Spanish Crown under various kings of the House of Bourbon throughout the 18th century. The reforms were intended to stimulate manufacturing and technology in order to modernize Spain...
, the Audiencia become more independent of the viceroy. He was no longer the presiding officer. That function was taken over by the newly created regent of the Audiencia. Romá y Rosell became the first regent of the Audiencia of Mexico.
As interim governor of New Spain
Soon after his arrival in Mexico City, he worked on a project for the cultivation of flax and hemp, apparently at the request of the Minister of the Indies, José de GálvezJosé de Gálvez
José de Gálvez y Gallardo, marqués de Sonora was a Spanish lawyer, a colonial official in New Spain and ultimately Minister of the Indies . He was one of the prime figures behind the Bourbon Reforms...
. But shortly after his arrival, he was thrust into a position of greater responsibility by the death of Viceroy Bucareli. Romá y Rosell served as interim governor of the colony from early April to late August 1779.
Twelve days before he turned over the office to Martín de Mayorga, news was received in Mexico City of Spain's declaration of war against Britain
Spain in the American Revolutionary War
Spain actively supported the Thirteen Colonies throughout the American Revolutionary War, beginning in 1776 by jointly funding Roderigue Hortalez and Company, a trading company that provided critical military supplies, through financing the final Siege of Yorktown in 1781 with a collection of gold...
. It fell to Romá y Rosell to begin the preparations to put New Spain on a war footing. The new viceroy, when he arrived, approved his actions.