Gabriel de Avilés y del Fierro
Encyclopedia
Gabriel de Avilés Itúrbide y del Fierro, 2nd Marquis of Avilés (c. 1735 – September 19, 1810) was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator in America. He was governor of Chile, viceroy of Río de la Plata
, and viceroy of Peru
.
in the province of Barcelona
, the son of José de Avilés, 1st Marquis of Avilés, intendente
of Aragon
and Valencia
, and of Carmen del Fierro. He entered the military at a young age. He was sent to Chile as a cavalry instructor in 1768. After two years at Arauco
, he was sent to Peru as subinspector general of the army. He married Mercedes del Risco y Ciudad, a Peruvian woman with a reputation for such kindness that she is known to history as la santa virreina.
erupted. The rebels had initial successes, and there were fears that the insurrection would engulf the entire viceroyalty. Avilés, then a colonel, was sent with a Spanish force to the defense of Cusco
. The reinforcements arrived the day before the rebels began a siege of the city. The rebel force was estimated to be as many as 60,000 men. The situation was not easy for the Spanish; they feared not only the besieging force, but also the possibility of an uprising of the Indigenous within the city itself.
Nevertheless, the resistance was valiant — and successful. Túpac Amaru was forced to raise the siege and retreat to Tungasuca. Viceroy Agustín de Jáuregui
sent a force of 22,000 men in pursuit. Túpac Amaru was defeated, betrayed, captured, and subsequently brutally executed, along with his family.
For his part in putting down the rebellion, in 1785 Avilés was promoted to brigadier and made governor of Callao
.
He remained in Peru until 1795, when he was promoted to lieutenant general and sent back to Chile, this time as governor.
In Santiago
Avilés rebuilt the Hospital San Juan de Dios. He reopened the old Jesuit college of San Pablo, as an asylum for paupers. He and the cabildo (city council) of Santiago worked together to improve the bridge works on the Mapocho River
, the paving of the streets, and the beautifying, cleaning and security of the city. The capital got its first public lighting. The governor toured the colony and ordered the construction of churches and public works in many places.
Avilés supported Licenciado Manuel de Salas in his projects of stimulating the production of linen and the foundation of the Academy of San Luis (1797).
During his term the Tribunal del Consulado was established. This was a tribunal to decide commercial and industrial disputes.
Avilés remained as governor only until October 1796, when he was posted to Buenos Aires
as viceroy of Río de la Plata.
, president of the Audiencia of Lima had held the position on an interim basis, pending Avilés's arrival.)
At the end of his mandate in 1806 he remained in Lima for some years. In 1810 he embarked for Spain, via the Strait of Magellan
. He became seriously ill and was forced to stop in Valparaíso, where he died on September 19, 1810.
Avilés had a reputation as a man of good character, kind and pious.
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
, and viceroy of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
Early life
Gabriel de Avilés was born in VicVic
Vic is the capital of the comarca of Osona, in the Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. Vic's location, only 69 km far from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made it one of the most important towns in central Catalonia.-History:...
in the province of Barcelona
Barcelona (province)
Barcelona is a province of eastern Spain, in the center of the autonomous community of Catalonia.-Overview:It is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Lleida, and Girona, and by the Mediterranean Sea....
, the son of José de Avilés, 1st Marquis of Avilés, intendente
Intendente
Governors in the various Provinces of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.In addition to governors, the following list intends to give an overview of colonial units of the provincial level; therefore it also includes some offices of similar rank, especially the intendant...
of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
and Valencia
Valencia (province)
Valencia or València is a province of Spain, in the central part of the Valencian Community.It is bordered by the provinces of Alicante, Albacete, Cuenca, Teruel, Castellón, and the Mediterranean Sea...
, and of Carmen del Fierro. He entered the military at a young age. He was sent to Chile as a cavalry instructor in 1768. After two years at Arauco
Arauco, Chile
Arauco is a city and commune in Chile, located in Arauco Province in the Biobio Region. The meaning of Arauco means Chalky Water in Mapudungun. The region was a Moluche aillarehue...
, he was sent to Peru as subinspector general of the army. He married Mercedes del Risco y Ciudad, a Peruvian woman with a reputation for such kindness that she is known to history as la santa virreina.
In Peru
In 1780 the anti-Spanish revolt of Túpac Amaru IITúpac Amaru II
Túpac Amaru II was a leader of an indigenous uprising in 1780 against the Spanish in Peru...
erupted. The rebels had initial successes, and there were fears that the insurrection would engulf the entire viceroyalty. Avilés, then a colonel, was sent with a Spanish force to the defense of Cusco
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 reinforcements arrived the day before the rebels began a siege of the city. The rebel force was estimated to be as many as 60,000 men. The situation was not easy for the Spanish; they feared not only the besieging force, but also the possibility of an uprising of the Indigenous within the city itself.
Nevertheless, the resistance was valiant — and successful. Túpac Amaru was forced to raise the siege and retreat to Tungasuca. Viceroy Agustín de Jáuregui
Agustín de Jáuregui
Agustín de Jáuregui y Aldecoa was a Spanish politician and soldier who served as governor of Chile and viceroy of Peru .-Early life:...
sent a force of 22,000 men in pursuit. Túpac Amaru was defeated, betrayed, captured, and subsequently brutally executed, along with his family.
For his part in putting down the rebellion, in 1785 Avilés was promoted to brigadier and made governor of Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
.
He remained in Peru until 1795, when he was promoted to lieutenant general and sent back to Chile, this time as governor.
As Governor of Chile
He took up the position in September 1795, replacing Ambrosio O'Higgins. (José de Rezabal y Ugarte had held the position briefly in between.)In 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...
Avilés rebuilt the Hospital San Juan de Dios. He reopened the old Jesuit college of San Pablo, as an asylum for paupers. He and the cabildo (city council) of Santiago worked together to improve the bridge works on the Mapocho River
Mapocho River
The Mapocho River flows from the Andes mountains onto the west and divides Chile's capital Santiago in two.-Course:...
, the paving of the streets, and the beautifying, cleaning and security of the city. The capital got its first public lighting. The governor toured the colony and ordered the construction of churches and public works in many places.
Avilés supported Licenciado Manuel de Salas in his projects of stimulating the production of linen and the foundation of the Academy of San Luis (1797).
During his term the Tribunal del Consulado was established. This was a tribunal to decide commercial and industrial disputes.
Avilés remained as governor only until October 1796, when he was posted to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
as viceroy of Río de la Plata.
As Viceroy of Río de la Plata
He was viceroy in Buenos Aires until 1801, when he was promoted to viceroy of Peru.As Viceroy of Peru
Once again he replaced Ambrosio O'Higgins. (Manuel Arredondo y PelegrínManuel Arredondo y Pelegrín
Manuel Antonio Arredondo y Pelegrín was a Spanish judge, soldier and colonial administrator in Peru and Ecuador. Briefly in 1801 he was interim viceroy of Peru....
, president of the Audiencia of Lima had held the position on an interim basis, pending Avilés's arrival.)
At the end of his mandate in 1806 he remained in Lima for some years. In 1810 he embarked for Spain, via the Strait of Magellan
Strait of Magellan
The Strait of Magellan comprises a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland South America and north of Tierra del Fuego...
. He became seriously ill and was forced to stop in Valparaíso, where he died on September 19, 1810.
Avilés had a reputation as a man of good character, kind and pious.