García Sarmiento de Sotomayor, 2nd conde de Salvatierra
Encyclopedia
García Sarmiento de Sotomayor, 2nd Count of Salvatierra and Marquis of Sobroso (c. 1595, Spain
—June 26, 1659, Lima
) was a Spanish viceroy of New Spain
(November 23, 1642 to May 13, 1648) and of Peru
(1648 to 1655).
and gentleman in waiting to the king.
fell under suspicion at the Spanish Court for possible links to Portuguese rebels, King Philip IV of Spain
named Sarmiento de Sotomayor to replace him. López Pacheco was overthrown by Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza
before the arrival of the new viceroy. Palafox occupied the viceroyalty for a few months pending the arrival of Sarmiento. He arrived in Mexico City
on November 23, 1642, and took up his duties. He found the colony tranquil, in contrast to the unrest in many other parts of the Spanish Empire.
Like earlier viceroys, he was soon faced with major flooding in the city (1645). The canal of Nochistongo was obstructed, and this allowed the water of Lake Zumpango to enter into Lake Mexico, raising its level and flooding parts of the city. The viceroy ordered the canal cleaned and the obstructions removed. This removed the danger to the city.
The viceroy sent another expedition (1648) to explore, conquer and colonize the Californias, but the expedition returned without having found lands of much interest. Viceroy Sarmiento also founded the city of Salvatierra
, Guanajuato
, and established the presidio of Cerro Gordo, on the highway from Mexico City to the mines at Parral. He made peace with various Indian tribes on the northern frontier, and suppressed rebellions by other tribes. He celebrated auto-de-fes in 1647 and 1648. The celebrated Mexican trickster Martín Garatuza
was one of those punished in 1648.
Sarmiento de Sotomayor reconstructed the aqueducts supplying water to Mexico City. He required tax stamps on legal documents, something his successors had attempted not very successfully. On May 13, 1648 he turned the government of New Spain over to the new viceroy, Marcos de Torres y Rueda
, bishop of Yucatan
.
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...
—June 26, 1659, Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
) was a Spanish viceroy of 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...
(November 23, 1642 to May 13, 1648) and of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
(1648 to 1655).
Early life
García Sarmiento de Sotomayor was born in Spain in the last decade of the Sixteenth Century. He was a descendant of Diego de Sarmiento, a knight commander of the Order of AlcántaraOrder of Alcántara
The Order of Alcántara , also called the Knights of St. Julian, was originally a military order of León, founded in 1166 and confirmed by Pope Alexander III in 1177.-Alcántara:...
and gentleman in waiting to the king.
As Viceroy of New Spain
When New Spain Viceroy Diego López Pacheco Cabrera y Bobadilla, marqués de VillenaDiego López Pacheco Cabrera y Bobadilla, marqués de Villena
Don Diego Roque López Pacheco Cabrera y Bobadilla, 7th Duke of Escalona, 7th Marquis of Villena and 7th Count of Xiquena was a Spanish nobleman and, from August 28, 1640 to June 10, 1642, viceroy of New Spain.-Early life:López Pacheco was born into one of the most aristocratic families of Iberia...
fell under suspicion at the Spanish Court for possible links to Portuguese rebels, King Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
named Sarmiento de Sotomayor to replace him. López Pacheco was overthrown by Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza
Juan de Palafox y Mendoza
Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza was a Spanish archbishop in the Roman Catholic Church. He also held political office in the New World. From June 10, 1642 to November 23, 1642 he was viceroy of New Spain.-Early life:...
before the arrival of the new viceroy. Palafox occupied the viceroyalty for a few months pending the arrival of Sarmiento. He arrived in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
on November 23, 1642, and took up his duties. He found the colony tranquil, in contrast to the unrest in many other parts of the Spanish Empire.
Like earlier viceroys, he was soon faced with major flooding in the city (1645). The canal of Nochistongo was obstructed, and this allowed the water of Lake Zumpango to enter into Lake Mexico, raising its level and flooding parts of the city. The viceroy ordered the canal cleaned and the obstructions removed. This removed the danger to the city.
Salvatierra, Guanajuato
Salvatierra is a Mexican city located in the valley of Huatzindeo in the lowlands of the state of Guanajuato. With an area of 507.70 square kilometres, Salvatierra accounts for 1.66% the total area of the state...
, Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, and established the presidio of Cerro Gordo, on the highway from Mexico City to the mines at Parral. He made peace with various Indian tribes on the northern frontier, and suppressed rebellions by other tribes. He celebrated auto-de-fes in 1647 and 1648. The celebrated Mexican trickster Martín Garatuza
Martín Garatuza
Martín Garatuza was a famous trickster whose frauds and escapes became legendary in colonial New Spain and whose name has passed into Spanish language, folklore and literature....
was one of those punished in 1648.
Sarmiento de Sotomayor reconstructed the aqueducts supplying water to Mexico City. He required tax stamps on legal documents, something his successors had attempted not very successfully. On May 13, 1648 he turned the government of New Spain over to the new viceroy, Marcos de Torres y Rueda
Marcos de Torres y Rueda
Marcos de Torres y Rueda was bishop of Yucatan , viceroy of New Spain, and president of the Audiencia of New Spain. His term as viceroy ran from May 13, 1648 to April 22, 1649...
, bishop of Yucatan
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
.