Mariano Luis de Urquijo
Encyclopedia
Mariano Luis de Urquijo y Muga , (Bilbao, Spain, 1769 – París, France, 1817 (in exile)). Secretary of State (Prime Minister) of Spain from 12 February 1799 to 13 December 1799, during the reign of King Carlos IV of Spain, and between 7 July 1808 and 27 June 1813 under the King Joseph Bonaparte
.
and Salamanca
. He spent some time living in England
before entering the spanish foreign service under the protection of the Count of Aranda and the Count of Floridablanca. It was in 1792, under the Aranda ministry, that he was named High Officer of the Secretary of State (Secretary of the Cabinet). Of progressive ideas, he translated the Death of Caesar of Voltaire
, then forbidden by the Catholic Church. Due to it, he was prosecuted by the Holy Office .
Despite his french sympathies, he was appointed First Secretary of State (Prime Minister) the 12 February 1799, and remained in office till 13 December 1800. While in office, he did all he could to limit the power and influence of the Inquisition, granting him the enmity of the Holy See
. Taking advantage of the Napoleonic invasion of the Papal States
, he attempted what came to be known as "Urquijo's Schism" (1799), in which he tried to recover for the Spanish church powers that had previously been assumed by the Pope, including matrimonial dispenses.
Even though he was supported by some jansenist-leaning clerics such as the bishop of Salamanca
, Antonio Tavira, his religious policies caused his fall. Godoy, the queen's favourite, had resented Urquijo as a rising star whose influence in court had started to eclipse his own. Palling along with Eusebio Bardají y Azara, an influential rising star in his own right, and Napoleon himself, who feared Urquijo's policies opposing a french intervention in Portugal
, they forced Urquijo's dismissal from office.
His brief term also saw several scientific entreprises being performed: he was, for instance, Alexander von Humboldt
's sponsor for his America
n expedition. He was instrumental in sending Valentin de Foronda
as General Consul of Spain in Philadelphia, (1801–1807), and as Spanish Plenipotentiary Minister in the USA till the nomination by the "Junta" of Luis de Onis
in 1809.
Resenting the conservative and ultra-catholic policies of the spanish court, he embraced the pro-french government of José I Bonaparte
once Napoleon invaded Spain and replaced the Bourbon
dynasty with his own brother Joseph (José). After publicly acknowledging José I as lawful King of Spain, he was called back to court and became Prime Minister again. He remained in office during all of José I reign, from 7 July 1808 to 27 June 1813. However, the failed napoleonic invasion resulted in Spain being lead to a state of war, and he was unable to carry out any policy apart from helping the french forces of José I brother Napoleon undertake an ineffective war against the spanish people.
Upon the french defeat, he fled along with Joseph I across the Pyrenees to France
into exile, embracing the French nationality. Outlawed in Spain, he died in exile in Paris, in 1817.
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
.
Biography
Born to a low nobility Basque family, he studied law in MadridMadrid
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...
and Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
. He spent some time living in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before entering the spanish foreign service under the protection of the Count of Aranda and the Count of Floridablanca. It was in 1792, under the Aranda ministry, that he was named High Officer of the Secretary of State (Secretary of the Cabinet). Of progressive ideas, he translated the Death of Caesar of Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
, then forbidden by the Catholic Church. Due to it, he was prosecuted by the Holy Office .
Despite his french sympathies, he was appointed First Secretary of State (Prime Minister) the 12 February 1799, and remained in office till 13 December 1800. While in office, he did all he could to limit the power and influence of the Inquisition, granting him the enmity of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. Taking advantage of the Napoleonic invasion of the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
, he attempted what came to be known as "Urquijo's Schism" (1799), in which he tried to recover for the Spanish church powers that had previously been assumed by the Pope, including matrimonial dispenses.
Even though he was supported by some jansenist-leaning clerics such as the bishop of Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Antonio Tavira, his religious policies caused his fall. Godoy, the queen's favourite, had resented Urquijo as a rising star whose influence in court had started to eclipse his own. Palling along with Eusebio Bardají y Azara, an influential rising star in his own right, and Napoleon himself, who feared Urquijo's policies opposing a french intervention in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, they forced Urquijo's dismissal from office.
His brief term also saw several scientific entreprises being performed: he was, for instance, Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
's sponsor for his America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n expedition. He was instrumental in sending Valentin de Foronda
Valentin de Foronda
Valentin de Foronda y González de Echávarri, , was Spanish General Consul in Philadelphia from 1801 to 1807 and Spanish Plenipotentiary Minister in the U.S.A...
as General Consul of Spain in Philadelphia, (1801–1807), and as Spanish Plenipotentiary Minister in the USA till the nomination by the "Junta" of Luis de Onis
Luís de Onís
Luis de Onís y Gonzalez-Vara was a Spanish diplomat. Born in Cantalapiedra, Salamanca and educated at the University of Salamanca, he served as the Spanish minister to the United States from 1809 to 1819...
in 1809.
Resenting the conservative and ultra-catholic policies of the spanish court, he embraced the pro-french government of José I Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
once Napoleon invaded Spain and replaced the Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
dynasty with his own brother Joseph (José). After publicly acknowledging José I as lawful King of Spain, he was called back to court and became Prime Minister again. He remained in office during all of José I reign, from 7 July 1808 to 27 June 1813. However, the failed napoleonic invasion resulted in Spain being lead to a state of war, and he was unable to carry out any policy apart from helping the french forces of José I brother Napoleon undertake an ineffective war against the spanish people.
Upon the french defeat, he fled along with Joseph I across the Pyrenees to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
into exile, embracing the French nationality. Outlawed in Spain, he died in exile in Paris, in 1817.