Ambrosio de Benavides
Encyclopedia
Ambrosio de Benavides Medina Liñán y Torres (January 20, 1718 -April 27, 1787 ) was a Spanish
colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Puerto Rico, Royal Governor of Charcas and Royal Governor of Chile
.
, the son of Juan Carlos de Benavides Mesía Ponce de León, head of the Inquisition in Cordoba, and of his wife, María Teresa de Medina Liñán y Torres. In 1738, he joined the Spanish Army as a cadet, eventually being posted to Málaga
, Ceuta
and Melilla
. He became an infantry captain in 1741, a sergeant major in 1754, a lieutenant colonel in 1760 and a full colonel in 1761. On September 25, 1760 he was appointed governor of Puerto Rico by King Ferdinand VI of Spain
.
but finally managed to arrive to Santiago
on December 11, assuming his position the next day. Nonetheless, the long and arduous journey took a heavy toll on his health from which he never really recovered.
and Antonio Berney
, and a criollo, José Antonio de Rojas, inspired by the Enlightenment
ideals, had formulated a plan to establish Chile as an independent republic. All three conspirators were secretly arrested on January 1, 1781, putting an end to any possible civil unrest before it even started.
, after nine days of uninterrupted rain, flooded the city. The river first overran its course to the orient of the city, and came down the Alameda (which itself is a former river branch). Soon it also overrran the dikes flooding all the north side (La Cañadilla) of the city. The whole downtown area became an island surrounded by water on all sides. Many nuns, such as the carmelitas de San Rafael had to be rescued on horseback from their isolated monasteries. Finally the storm abated on the 17th, without casualties but with great economic losses.
decided to reform the political administration of the empire. Among other reforms he subdivided the General Captaincies into Intendencias. In Chile two were created in 1786: Santiago, covering the area from Copiapó
to the Maule river
; and Concepción
, from the Maule river to the Valdivia River
. Benavides, while remaining governor of Chile, became also the intendant of Santiago, and brigadier Ambrosio O'Higgins
became intendant of Concepción. Benavides named as his assistant Alonso de Guzmán y Peralta; while O'Higgins named Juan Martínez de Rozas
, both lawyers.
Another consequence of the reforms was that the King reserved for himself the appointment of the military governors of Valparaíso and Valdivia
, and while continental Chile remained as a Captaincy-General within the viceroyalty, Chiloé Island
was detached and made a direct dependency of the Viceroyalty of Perú
.
arrived to Chile. He was charged with the construction of the new Cathedral, the La Moneda Palace, the new building for the Cabildo
and the new public jail. He paid much attention in the construction of the Maipo channel, and the reconstruction of Santiago after the floods of 1783, including moving the location of La Moneda from his original emplacement next to the river to the current one.
to try to restore his health. There he died on April 27. He was buried in the Cathedral of Santiago.
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...
colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Puerto Rico, Royal Governor of Charcas and Royal Governor of Chile
Royal Governor of Chile
The Royal Governor of Chile ruled over the Spanish colonial administrative district known as the Kingdom of Chile. This district was also called the Captaincy General of Chile, and as a result the Royal Governor also held the title of a Captain General...
.
Early life
Benavides was born in GranadaGranada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, the son of Juan Carlos de Benavides Mesía Ponce de León, head of the Inquisition in Cordoba, and of his wife, María Teresa de Medina Liñán y Torres. In 1738, he joined the Spanish Army as a cadet, eventually being posted to Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
, Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and Melilla
Melilla
Melilla is a autonomous city of Spain and an exclave on the north coast of Morocco. Melilla, along with the Spanish exclave Ceuta, is one of the two Spanish territories located in mainland Africa...
. He became an infantry captain in 1741, a sergeant major in 1754, a lieutenant colonel in 1760 and a full colonel in 1761. On September 25, 1760 he was appointed governor of Puerto Rico by King Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
.
As governor of Chile
Benavides was notified of his appointment as Captain General of Chile in May of 1780, and immediately started the long trip overland. He had to stop and winter in the city of MendozaMendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
but finally managed to arrive to Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
on December 11, assuming his position the next day. Nonetheless, the long and arduous journey took a heavy toll on his health from which he never really recovered.
Conspiracy of the Tres Antonios
As soon as Benavides arrived, he was faced with the so-called Conspiracy of the Tres Antonios, where 2 Frenchmen, Antonio GramussetAntonio Gramusset
Antonio Gramusset was a French adventurer living in Chile, and one of the co-conspirators in the Conspiracy of the Tres Antonios.He was born in Premelieu, and arrived to Chile around 1764. Once there, he first tried to become a priest, and later he joined a military regiment composed of...
and Antonio Berney
Antonio Berney
Antonio Berney was a French teacher living in Chile, and one of the conspirators in the Conspiracy of the Tres Antonios.Berney arrived in Chile around 1776, where he became teacher of Latin and Mathematics at the Convictorio Carolino, in Santiago...
, and a criollo, José Antonio de Rojas, inspired by the Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
ideals, had formulated a plan to establish Chile as an independent republic. All three conspirators were secretly arrested on January 1, 1781, putting an end to any possible civil unrest before it even started.
Flood of 1783
The fall of 1783 was one of the harshest on record for Chile. On April 13, a strong earthquake affected Santiago and on June 16, the Mapocho RiverMapocho River
The Mapocho River flows from the Andes mountains onto the west and divides Chile's capital Santiago in two.-Course:...
, after nine days of uninterrupted rain, flooded the city. The river first overran its course to the orient of the city, and came down the Alameda (which itself is a former river branch). Soon it also overrran the dikes flooding all the north side (La Cañadilla) of the city. The whole downtown area became an island surrounded by water on all sides. Many nuns, such as the carmelitas de San Rafael had to be rescued on horseback from their isolated monasteries. Finally the storm abated on the 17th, without casualties but with great economic losses.
Bourbon reforms
King Charles IIICharles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
decided to reform the political administration of the empire. Among other reforms he subdivided the General Captaincies into Intendencias. In Chile two were created in 1786: Santiago, covering the area from Copiapó
Copiapó
Copiapó is a city in northern Chile, located about 40 miles east of the coastal town of Caldera. Founded on December 8, 1744, it is the capital of Copiapó Province and Atacama Region....
to the Maule river
Maule river
The Maule river is one of the most important rivers of Chile and is inextricably linked to this country's pre-Hispanic times, the country's conquest, colonial period, wars of Independence, modern history, agriculture , culture , religion, economy and politics...
; and Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
, from the Maule river to the Valdivia River
Valdivia River
The Valdivia River or Río Valdivia, as it is known locally, is a major river in southern Chile. It is the continuation of the Calle-Calle River, from the point where it meets the Cau-Cau River in the city of Valdivia. The Valdivia river ends in Corral Bay, on the Pacific coast. Other tributaries...
. Benavides, while remaining governor of Chile, became also the intendant of Santiago, and brigadier Ambrosio O'Higgins
Ambrosio O'Higgins, Marquis of Osorno
Ambrosio Bernardo O'Higgins, 1st Marquis of Osorno born Ambrose Bernard O'Higgins , was a member of the O'Higgins family and an Irish-born Spanish colonial administrator...
became intendant of Concepción. Benavides named as his assistant Alonso de Guzmán y Peralta; while O'Higgins named Juan Martínez de Rozas
Juan Martinez de Rozas
Juan Martínez de Rozas Correa was the earliest leader in the Chilean struggle for independence.He was born at Mendoza in 1759, the son of Juan Martínez de Soto Rozas and María Prudencia Correa Villegas. In his early life he was a professor of law, theology and philosophy at Santiago...
, both lawyers.
Another consequence of the reforms was that the King reserved for himself the appointment of the military governors of Valparaíso and Valdivia
Valdivia, Chile
Valdivia is a city and commune in southern Chile administered by the Municipality of Valdivia. The city is named after its founder Pedro de Valdivia and is located at the confluence of the Calle-Calle, Valdivia and Cau-Cau Rivers, approximately east of the coastal towns of Corral and Niebla...
, and while continental Chile remained as a Captaincy-General within the viceroyalty, Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island , also known as Greater Island of Chiloé , is the largest island of the Chiloé Archipelago off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean...
was detached and made a direct dependency of the Viceroyalty of Perú
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
.
Public works
During his period, the Italian architect Joaquín ToescaJoaquín Toesca
Joaquín Toesca y Ricci , born Gioacchino Toesca, was an Italian architect who worked for the king and governors of the Spanish Empire, especially in colonial Chile....
arrived to Chile. He was charged with the construction of the new Cathedral, the La Moneda Palace, the new building for the Cabildo
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
and the new public jail. He paid much attention in the construction of the Maipo channel, and the reconstruction of Santiago after the floods of 1783, including moving the location of La Moneda from his original emplacement next to the river to the current one.
Death
On March 27, 1787, he officially appointed Tomás Álvarez de Acevedo as interim governor and retired to CauquenesCauquenes
Cauquenes, a city and commune in Chile, is the capital of the Cauquenes Province and is located in the Maule Region.-History:According to the historical records of Alonso de Ercilla, Cauquenes was originally inhabited by an indigenous community of the Promaucaes, known as the Cauqui by the Inca or...
to try to restore his health. There he died on April 27. He was buried in the Cathedral of Santiago.