Diego de Villalba y Toledo
Encyclopedia
Diego de Villalba y Toledo, marqués de Campo, señor de la Villa de Santacruz de Pinares was a Spanish general of artillery and colonial governor in America. From 1667 to 1671 he was governor of New Kingdom of Granada
- Nuevo Reino de Granada - (greater Colombia), then part of the Viceroyalty of Peru
.
Villalba y Toledo was a knight of the Order of Santiago
and majordomo of Juan José of Austria, son of Spanish King Philip IV
. From 1647 to 1653 Villalba was governor of Cuba
.
In 1667 he became governor of Nuevo Reino de Granada (New Granada). During his administration the Grand Bridge over the Bogotá River
was completed, and also a bridge over the Río Gualí at Honda
. These were constructed by Indigenous labor. He traveled to Cartagena de Indias to inspect its defenses after the English pirate Henry Morgan
attacked the Castle of San Felipe in 1668. At the same time, there were reports that the French also planned a landing in New Granada.
Because of a shortage of coinage in New Granada, Villalba ordered the silver bars be melted down to make coins of one quarter and one half real.
There was a variety of complaints to the Crown against Villalba's administration, and Bishop Melchor Liñán y Cisneros
was appointed visitador (inspector) to investigate them. The bishop ordered that Villalba be arrested and confined in Villa de Leiva. There were 70 charges against him, and he was convicted of robbing the dead. On June 2, 1671, Liñán y Cisneros replaced him on a temporary basis as governor and captain general of New Granada. Liñán y Cisneros later became viceroy of Peru.
Villalba y Toledo died in Seville
.
New Kingdom of Granada
The New Kingdom of Granada was the name given to a group of 16th century Spanish colonial provinces in northern South America governed by the president of the Audiencia of Bogotá, an area corresponding mainly to modern day Colombia and parts of Venezuela. Originally part of the Viceroyalty of...
- Nuevo Reino de Granada - (greater Colombia), then part of the Viceroyalty of Peru
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...
.
Villalba y Toledo was a knight of the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
and majordomo of Juan José of Austria, son of Spanish King Philip IV
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...
. From 1647 to 1653 Villalba was governor of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
In 1667 he became governor of Nuevo Reino de Granada (New Granada). During his administration the Grand Bridge over the Bogotá River
Bogotá River
The Bogotá River is a major river of the Cundinamarca department of Colombia, crossing the region from the northeast to the southwest and passing along the western limits of Bogotá...
was completed, and also a bridge over the Río Gualí at Honda
Honda, Tolima
Honda is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 26,873 as of the 2005 census. Along with Líbano, Honda is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Líbano-Honda...
. These were constructed by Indigenous labor. He traveled to Cartagena de Indias to inspect its defenses after the English pirate Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan
Admiral Sir Henry Morgan was an Admiral of the Royal Navy, a privateer, and a pirate who made a name for himself during activities in the Caribbean, primarily raiding Spanish settlements...
attacked the Castle of San Felipe in 1668. At the same time, there were reports that the French also planned a landing in New Granada.
Because of a shortage of coinage in New Granada, Villalba ordered the silver bars be melted down to make coins of one quarter and one half real.
There was a variety of complaints to the Crown against Villalba's administration, and Bishop Melchor Liñán y Cisneros
Melchor Liñán y Cisneros
Melchor Liñán y Cisneros was a Spanish prelate, colonial official, and viceroy Peru, from July 7, 1678 to November 20, 1681)....
was appointed visitador (inspector) to investigate them. The bishop ordered that Villalba be arrested and confined in Villa de Leiva. There were 70 charges against him, and he was convicted of robbing the dead. On June 2, 1671, Liñán y Cisneros replaced him on a temporary basis as governor and captain general of New Granada. Liñán y Cisneros later became viceroy of Peru.
Villalba y Toledo died in Seville
Seville
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...
.