Alonso Fernández de Heredia
Encyclopedia
Alonso Fernández de Heredia was a Spanish captain general and politician who belonged to the
Captaincy General of Guatemala
and ruled Florida
(1751–1758), Yucatan
(Mexico
) (1758 -?), Nicaragua
(1761 -1771) and Honduras
(1761 -?).
, Zaragoza
, Spain
, in the eighteenth century. He was son of Antonio Fernandez de Heredia y Liñan Altarriba, Count II of Contamina, and of Beatriz Ximenez de Cerdan y Gurrea, Marquesa II de Barboles. He was captain of the Spanish army general
and Field Marshal
of the royal armies. In 1749, he became involved in a smuggling case well known at this time, so twenty nine years later, he was sentenced along with other contributors. Interestingly, both Alonso Fernandez, like all other people accused of smuggling were the promoters of the plan of defense of the Atlantic Coast
and they had fought against the British. Two years after of smuggling, in 1751, he was appointed governor of Florida
, a position he left in 1758, when he became the governor of Yucatan
, Mexico
. Later, on June 14, 1761, Alonso Fernandez moved to Guatemala
to become Captain General
. During this time, he asked the crown of creation of the viceroyalty of Guatemala based on elements of the region such as higher livestock, sugar mills, fruit and cocoa and the great development of their cities, but the request was rejected. This year, he was also governor of Nicaragua
(although according to some sources, he was governor of Nicaragua, in fact, between 1746 - 1753) and he was elected at the same time as acting governor of Honduras
. His government in Honduras implemented a series of changes such as the reorganization of taxation, an attack against the Guatemalan town hall and an extension of state jurisdiction on social sectors. These objectives were met with great success due to provincial relations that he had achieved in previous positions. Fernández Alonso was also able to change their local government relations, getting, well, processing applications for the people of Tegucigalpa
. On June 18, 1762 he obtained the title of Villa Real de Tegucigalpa de Heredia. However, it was the royal decree of July 17, 1768 which confirmed the appointment as Villa
. On March 12, 1768, he left the Captaincy General of Guatemala
. Alonso Fernandez also was recognized by the construction of Tegucigalpa in the construction of Omoa
, where many people died due to harsh climate of the region and its difficulty to adapt to him.
Captaincy General of Guatemala
Captaincy General of Guatemala
The Captaincy General of Guatemala , also known as the Kingdom of Guatemala , was an administrative division in Spanish America which covered much of Central America, including what are now the nations of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, and the Mexican state of Chiapas...
and ruled 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...
(1751–1758), 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....
(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...
) (1758 -?), Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
(1761 -1771) and Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
(1761 -?).
Biography
Alonso Fernández de Heredia was born CetinaCetina, Aragon
Cetina is a municipality in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon. It is situated in the southeast of the province.The town of Cetina forms part of the Cid's Road, the path taken by El Cid according to El Cantar del Mio Cid followed the course of the Jalón river, with the relevant lines stating that...
, Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, 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...
, in the eighteenth century. He was son of Antonio Fernandez de Heredia y Liñan Altarriba, Count II of Contamina, and of Beatriz Ximenez de Cerdan y Gurrea, Marquesa II de Barboles. He was captain of the Spanish army general
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:...
and Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
of the royal armies. In 1749, he became involved in a smuggling case well known at this time, so twenty nine years later, he was sentenced along with other contributors. Interestingly, both Alonso Fernandez, like all other people accused of smuggling were the promoters of the plan of defense of the Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and they had fought against the British. Two years after of smuggling, in 1751, he was appointed 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...
, a position he left in 1758, when he became the governor 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....
, 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...
. Later, on June 14, 1761, Alonso Fernandez moved to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
to become Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
. During this time, he asked the crown of creation of the viceroyalty of Guatemala based on elements of the region such as higher livestock, sugar mills, fruit and cocoa and the great development of their cities, but the request was rejected. This year, he was also governor of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
(although according to some sources, he was governor of Nicaragua, in fact, between 1746 - 1753) and he was elected at the same time as acting governor of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. His government in Honduras implemented a series of changes such as the reorganization of taxation, an attack against the Guatemalan town hall and an extension of state jurisdiction on social sectors. These objectives were met with great success due to provincial relations that he had achieved in previous positions. Fernández Alonso was also able to change their local government relations, getting, well, processing applications for the people of Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
. On June 18, 1762 he obtained the title of Villa Real de Tegucigalpa de Heredia. However, it was the royal decree of July 17, 1768 which confirmed the appointment as Villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
. On March 12, 1768, he left the Captaincy General of Guatemala
Captaincy General of Guatemala
The Captaincy General of Guatemala , also known as the Kingdom of Guatemala , was an administrative division in Spanish America which covered much of Central America, including what are now the nations of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, and the Mexican state of Chiapas...
. Alonso Fernandez also was recognized by the construction of Tegucigalpa in the construction of Omoa
Omoa
Omoa is a town and a municipality in the Department of Cortés of the Central American country of Honduras. Omoa is located on a small bay of the same name 18 km. west of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean Sea coast.- Geography :...
, where many people died due to harsh climate of the region and its difficulty to adapt to him.
Personal life
Alonso Fernández de Heredia married with Countess III San Clemente Elena Marin de Villanueva e Hijar and they had one daughter: Maria Magdalena Fernandez de Heredia y Marin de VillanuevaExternal links
- Cantones: Heredia. http://www.guiascostarica.com/provi/heredia.htm (In Spain).