Pablo de Hita y Salazar
Encyclopedia
Pablo de Hita y Salazar (1646 - ??) was a Spanish soldier and governor of Florida
(1674–1780), who was best known for his many mistakes made in the re - construction of the Castillo de San Marcos
, St. Augustine, Florida
, and its refusal to follow the orders of the crown on the construction of the castle.
, Spain
.
As a young man he joined the Spanish army
. He was for forty years of service in Flanders
, Germany
and Mexico
. At some point, he also served as mayor of Veracruz
. He served as military until 1674, the year in which the Spanish crown decided to become the new governor of Florida
.
where they are building the Castillo de San Marcos
with the plans of a major real engineer. Thus, Hita y Salazar, with 29 years, left Sevilla that year and moved to Florida
. During that time, the government de Hita y Salazar made further changes and reforms in the castle. On 30 July, after know the creation of another Strength, he think that it was unnecessary. Later, Hita y Salazar sent two letters to the Crown in with he explained the progress made in the castle of the city and to give suggestions on the fort, and that he thought any attacker who arrived at the scene try to win and hold only Anastasia Island
, cutting the fleet replenishment, and sometimes, also bombarding the castle. To protect the island and prevent the invasion, De Salazar decided that its engineers built a redoubt of four arms, which should leave the coast of El Pinillo and protected the entry and access to Anastasia Island. However, it seems, many of his decisions, he took may have been influenced by a false idea that made him believe that there was an army on Anastasia Island
that could bombard the castle and, moreover, he would cut off lines supply. This, by the time I was not real. However, after he come to reason and he withdrew his theory of invasion of the island, British General Oglethorpe tried to do exactly that in 1739. The supply ships were prepared for the attack and they were able to prevent the few blocks that Oglethorpe sent, as the coquina rock with which the castle, was built blocking the impact of cannon balls so that the constant bombardment was ineffective .
Hita y Salazar also ordered the construction of a battery in front of the castle to protect his deck and the pier, so that some transport activities carried out by the ships would remain in force, including the duration of the attack. All these changes would be paid at the expense of land-based defenses. When Hita y Salazar came to the west Florida, he decided he could make in this place a wall of defense to prevent a military attack, leading to large earth moving and replacing wall by a real stone wall. However, with this, he showed, at least to his staff, he did not understand the creation of a fortification, which prompted him to send a letter criticizing the crown.
When the Spanish crown had not yet sent a response, Hita y Salazar, decided to stop all construction. The interruption of the construction was rejected by many people in St. Augustine
. So the May 8, 1676, a staff of Hita y Salazar, he sent a letter to the Crown complaining about the plans of his superior. The Crown decided that he should not make these changes and that he was not competent enough for this position because he was just before the be political, a simple soldier in the army, so he had no experience in construction. The personal of Hita y Salazar warned the Crown of the need to stay with the original plans. On October 14, 1676 the Real Accounts sent another letter to the crown, which is set a long list of expenses, changes and delays made by the Governor Hita y Salazar, also including the wages paid to workers when they did nothing significant.
On July 3, 1679, came the reply from the Crown and this indicated that the construction should follow the original construction plans. The following year, in 1680, Hita y Salazar was suspended from office as governor of Florida and 30 November of that year, with the arrival of the new governor of the province, Juan Márquez Cabrera
, Hita y Salazar gave him a report that included a detailed outline of the progress made by him in the city until then. In this report, he explained the many changes he had in the castle, which he considered insufficient. However, none of these changes correspond to the original plans, which meant that he had rejected the orders of the Crown to meet close-ups in the construction of the castle.
In addition, Governor Cabrera made a series of investigations that concluded with the numbers of materials and structures carried out in St. Augustine by Hita y Salazar and he said the report that gave him Hita y Salazar was false. His engineers found many errors in the structures which he commanded to do, especially in reference to some walls and bastions, which were unstable because their bases were incomplete. One side of the bastion of San Carlos had to be, in fact, completely rebuilt, as this was in a very uneven wall. Because of these errors the former Governor Hita Salazar blamed the discrepancy to his engineer, Lajon Lorenzo, whom he said had provided him with the characters.
Construction will continue until 1695, and construction of the castle will cost tons of gold. In 1695, the walls were 26 meters high and were effective in the siege of 1702, keeping the whole population of the city into a fortress surrounded by 300 soldiers. After two months the fort was broken.
, Mexico
.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(1674–1780), who was best known for his many mistakes made in the re - construction of the Castillo de San Marcos
Castillo de San Marcos
The Castillo de San Marcos site is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. It is located in the city of St. Augustine, Florida. Construction was begun in 1672 by the Spanish when Florida was a Spanish territory. During the twenty year period of British possession from 1763 until 1784, the...
, St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
, and its refusal to follow the orders of the crown on the construction of the castle.
Early Years
Pablo de Hita y Salazar was born, probably, in 1646, in SevilleSeville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, 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...
.
As a young man he joined the Spanish army
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
. He was for forty years of service in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. At some point, he also served as mayor of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. He served as military until 1674, the year in which the Spanish crown decided to become the new governor of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
The Castillo de San Marcos
He took control of Florida in St. AugustineSt. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
where they are building the Castillo de San Marcos
Castillo de San Marcos
The Castillo de San Marcos site is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. It is located in the city of St. Augustine, Florida. Construction was begun in 1672 by the Spanish when Florida was a Spanish territory. During the twenty year period of British possession from 1763 until 1784, the...
with the plans of a major real engineer. Thus, Hita y Salazar, with 29 years, left Sevilla that year and moved to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. During that time, the government de Hita y Salazar made further changes and reforms in the castle. On 30 July, after know the creation of another Strength, he think that it was unnecessary. Later, Hita y Salazar sent two letters to the Crown in with he explained the progress made in the castle of the city and to give suggestions on the fort, and that he thought any attacker who arrived at the scene try to win and hold only Anastasia Island
Anastasia Island
Anastasia Island is a barrier island which is approximately long located off the northeast Atlantic coast of Florida in the United States. The island is located east and southeast of St. Augustine. It is separated from the mainland by the Matanzas River, part of the Intracoastal waterway, Matanzas...
, cutting the fleet replenishment, and sometimes, also bombarding the castle. To protect the island and prevent the invasion, De Salazar decided that its engineers built a redoubt of four arms, which should leave the coast of El Pinillo and protected the entry and access to Anastasia Island. However, it seems, many of his decisions, he took may have been influenced by a false idea that made him believe that there was an army on Anastasia Island
Anastasia Island
Anastasia Island is a barrier island which is approximately long located off the northeast Atlantic coast of Florida in the United States. The island is located east and southeast of St. Augustine. It is separated from the mainland by the Matanzas River, part of the Intracoastal waterway, Matanzas...
that could bombard the castle and, moreover, he would cut off lines supply. This, by the time I was not real. However, after he come to reason and he withdrew his theory of invasion of the island, British General Oglethorpe tried to do exactly that in 1739. The supply ships were prepared for the attack and they were able to prevent the few blocks that Oglethorpe sent, as the coquina rock with which the castle, was built blocking the impact of cannon balls so that the constant bombardment was ineffective .
Hita y Salazar also ordered the construction of a battery in front of the castle to protect his deck and the pier, so that some transport activities carried out by the ships would remain in force, including the duration of the attack. All these changes would be paid at the expense of land-based defenses. When Hita y Salazar came to the west Florida, he decided he could make in this place a wall of defense to prevent a military attack, leading to large earth moving and replacing wall by a real stone wall. However, with this, he showed, at least to his staff, he did not understand the creation of a fortification, which prompted him to send a letter criticizing the crown.
When the Spanish crown had not yet sent a response, Hita y Salazar, decided to stop all construction. The interruption of the construction was rejected by many people in St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
. So the May 8, 1676, a staff of Hita y Salazar, he sent a letter to the Crown complaining about the plans of his superior. The Crown decided that he should not make these changes and that he was not competent enough for this position because he was just before the be political, a simple soldier in the army, so he had no experience in construction. The personal of Hita y Salazar warned the Crown of the need to stay with the original plans. On October 14, 1676 the Real Accounts sent another letter to the crown, which is set a long list of expenses, changes and delays made by the Governor Hita y Salazar, also including the wages paid to workers when they did nothing significant.
On July 3, 1679, came the reply from the Crown and this indicated that the construction should follow the original construction plans. The following year, in 1680, Hita y Salazar was suspended from office as governor of Florida and 30 November of that year, with the arrival of the new governor of the province, Juan Márquez Cabrera
Juan Márquez Cabrera
Juan Marquez Cabrera was the governor of Florida between 1680 and 1687.Juan Márquez Cabrera was appointed governor in 1680, replacing Pablo de Hita y Salazar. He arrived to province November 30 of that year. On his arrived, Hita y Salazar gave him a report that included a detailed outline of the...
, Hita y Salazar gave him a report that included a detailed outline of the progress made by him in the city until then. In this report, he explained the many changes he had in the castle, which he considered insufficient. However, none of these changes correspond to the original plans, which meant that he had rejected the orders of the Crown to meet close-ups in the construction of the castle.
In addition, Governor Cabrera made a series of investigations that concluded with the numbers of materials and structures carried out in St. Augustine by Hita y Salazar and he said the report that gave him Hita y Salazar was false. His engineers found many errors in the structures which he commanded to do, especially in reference to some walls and bastions, which were unstable because their bases were incomplete. One side of the bastion of San Carlos had to be, in fact, completely rebuilt, as this was in a very uneven wall. Because of these errors the former Governor Hita Salazar blamed the discrepancy to his engineer, Lajon Lorenzo, whom he said had provided him with the characters.
Construction will continue until 1695, and construction of the castle will cost tons of gold. In 1695, the walls were 26 meters high and were effective in the siege of 1702, keeping the whole population of the city into a fortress surrounded by 300 soldiers. After two months the fort was broken.
Contribution to livestock
Hita y Salazar not only dedicated to building strengths to try to prevent British attacks on Florida, he also gave a boost to the livestock, distributing land to his friends creoles of the province. He himself decided to establish himself as a farmer and lived in San Augustinne, where in 1680 he commanded to build a house that still exists in that city.A learned man
Because of his military career, he knew the fortifications and the treaties of Adam Freitag (LÁrchitecture militaire ou la nouvelle Fortification), the book of Prieto Floriani or the book of the Jesuit Jean Dubreuil, so as the of M. de Bitainvieu and the treaties of Matthias David Papillon and Dogen and containing the experiences of military fortification in Flanders. In addition to the work of Pagans "Les Fortifications", all published in the seventeenth century.Personal life
Pablo de Hita y Salazar of married Juana Dávila and they had one son, Tomás de Hita Salazar y Davila, who was born in VeracruzVeracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
External links
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (U.S. National Park Service). http://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm
- Castillo de San Marcos. San Agustín, caminando sin rumbo.(Translation: Castillo de San Marcos. San Augustine, walking aimlessly). http://www.caminandosinrumbo.com/eu/florida/stagustin/marcos/index.htm (in Spanish)