Francisco de Borja y Aragón
Encyclopedia
Francisco de Borja y Aragón, conde de Rebolledo, príncipe de Esquilache (1581 — September 26, 1658) was a Spanish writer, official in the court of King Philip III of Spain
, and, from December 18, 1615 to December 31, 1621, viceroy of Peru.
Borja y Aragón was born in Madrid
, a descendent of King Ferdinand of Aragon
and of Alexander Borgia (Pope Alexander VI
). He was also related to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
and Saint Francis Borgia
. Born and educated in Spain, he became an important official in the Spanish court. He was knight commander of the military Order of Santiago and lord of the bedchamber to the king. He was also known as a man of letters. He was appointed viceroy of Peru in 1614.
In Peru, he reorganized the University of San Marcos. He also founded, in Cuzco
, the Colegio del Príncipe for sons of the Indigenous nobility and the Colegio de San Francisco for sons of the conquistadors. He established the Tribunal del Consulado, a special court and administrative body for commercial affairs in the viceroyalty. He also strengthened the navy and the artillery and gave a great impulse to mining in the district of Chucuito, thereby increasing the revenue of the government of the colony.
In 1617 he divided the government of Río de la Plata into two, Buenos Aires and Paraguay, both dependencies of the Viceroyalty of Peru. He was a supporter of the Jesuits, and collaborated with them in the suppression of idolatry and witchcraft.
On the death of his patron, Philip III, Borja y Aragón returned to Spain, embarking on December 31, 1621. There he dedicated himself to poetry, reworking and publishing some of the poems of his youth and writing new works in verse and prose. He died in Madrid in 1658.
The people of Lima knew him as el Virrey poeta (The Poet Viceroy) because of his literary talent.
Miguel de Cervantes
included an appreciation of Borja y Aragón's works in his Viaje del Parnaso. Madrid, 1614.
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
, and, from December 18, 1615 to December 31, 1621, viceroy of Peru.
Borja y Aragón was born in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, a descendent of King Ferdinand of Aragon
Ferdinand of Aragon
Ferdinand of Aragon may refer to:* Ferdinand I of Aragon, also known as Ferdinand of Antequera * Ferdinand II of Aragon, who married Isabella of Castile to become king of Spain, * Ferdinand of Aragón, Duke of Calabria...
and of Alexander Borgia (Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
). He was also related to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
and Saint Francis Borgia
Francis Borgia
Saint Francis Borgia, 4th duke of Gandía, 3rd Father General of the Jesuit Order, Grandee of Spain, was a Spanish Jesuit and third Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was canonized on 20 June 1670.-Early life:He was born Francesco Borgia de Candia d'Aragon within the Duchy of Gandía,...
. Born and educated in Spain, he became an important official in the Spanish court. He was knight commander of the military Order of Santiago and lord of the bedchamber to the king. He was also known as a man of letters. He was appointed viceroy of Peru in 1614.
In Peru, he reorganized the University of San Marcos. He also founded, in Cuzco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
, the Colegio del Príncipe for sons of the Indigenous nobility and the Colegio de San Francisco for sons of the conquistadors. He established the Tribunal del Consulado, a special court and administrative body for commercial affairs in the viceroyalty. He also strengthened the navy and the artillery and gave a great impulse to mining in the district of Chucuito, thereby increasing the revenue of the government of the colony.
In 1617 he divided the government of Río de la Plata into two, Buenos Aires and Paraguay, both dependencies of the Viceroyalty of Peru. He was a supporter of the Jesuits, and collaborated with them in the suppression of idolatry and witchcraft.
On the death of his patron, Philip III, Borja y Aragón returned to Spain, embarking on December 31, 1621. There he dedicated himself to poetry, reworking and publishing some of the poems of his youth and writing new works in verse and prose. He died in Madrid in 1658.
The people of Lima knew him as el Virrey poeta (The Poet Viceroy) because of his literary talent.
Literary works
- Naples recuperada por el Rey Alfonso (Naples Regained by King Alfonso V of AragonAlfonso V of AragonAlfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
). Epic poem in eight-line stanzas and 12 cantos, 1651. - Obras en Verso (Works in Verse). Antwerp, 1654.
- Oraciones y Meditaciones de la Vida de Jesucristo (Speeches and Meditations on the Life of Jesus Christ; Brussels, 1661).
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written...
included an appreciation of Borja y Aragón's works in his Viaje del Parnaso. Madrid, 1614.