Jose de Iturrigaray

Jose de Iturrigaray ( Jose Joaquín de Iturrigaray there Aróstegui ) (1742 with Cadiz in Spain - 1815 with Madrid) was an officer of the Spanish army and Vice-roi of News-Spain, January 4th 1803 with the September 16th 1808.

Origins and military career

Iturrigaray is resulting from a family of fortunate merchants of Biscay.

Under Charles III in 1762 it takes share with the war against the Portugal and with Gibraltar. In 1793, under Charles IV, his merits is recognized during the program of Rosellón at the time of the war against the revolutionary France. In 1801 he is commander-in-chief of the army of Andalusia in the war against Portugal, under the orders of the Generalissimo Manuel Godoy.

Viceroy of News-Spain

It is Godoy which names it Vice-roi of News-Spain. Iturrigaray arrives in the colony in 1803 with his wife, María Inés of Jáuregui there Arístegui. When it passes the customs to Veracruz, it brings an enormous loading of goods which enters without paying rights because it declares them like its personal luggage. The king makes him send a great quantity of weapons which the Viceroy provides to the regiments Mexico City and Puebla, then stationed with Cuba. Iturrigaray quickly becomes popular its friendly character and jovial contrast with that austere of its predecessor, Felix Berenguer de Marquina.

The King had ordered that the currently cultivated vineyards continue to be it but that the Viceroy was not to authorize the new ones. In 1803 the Viceroy complains near the the United States about smuggling and fishing about the American ships in water about News-Spain, in particular in California and Sonora.

In June, he visits the current state of Guanajuato, to announce the opening of a public attic there. He also inspects the mines of Valenciana and Rayas, he receives one present of 1 there; 000 Ounce S of gold. It offers to ask for Spain a sufficient quantity of mercury to allow the exploitation of the mines. While crossing Celaya, it authorizes Ayuntamiento (the municipal council) to organize Corrida S and to build a bridge on Río Laja. The bridge will be built under the direction of the architect Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras.

The December 9th 1803 it inaugurates the equestrian bronze of Charles IV of Manuel Tolsá in the center of Mexico City. The first stone of the base had been posed the July 18th 1796 by the Viceroy Miguel of Grúa Talamanca there Branciforte and the statue had been cast on August 4th 1802.

The March 22nd 1803 the explorer and Prussian naturalist, the Baron Alexander von Humboldt arrives at Acapulco since the Peru on the ship Pizarro . The May 5th 1804, the Baron Humboldt estimates the population of News-Spain at 6 million inhabitants.

The March 18th 1804 a forwarding of Vaccination against the Variole carried out by Dr. Francisco Javier de Balmis arrives in News-Spain. The reception of the Viceroy is less enthusiastic than the chiefs of forwarding hoped for it. However Dr. Juan Arboleya vaccinates the son of the Viceroy.

In March 1805 of the news arrive to News-Spain of a new declaration of war of Spain against England. Iturrigaray receives the order to put the colony in a state of defense and to increase its contributions to Spain. With this intention, it promulgates the Cédula of Caja de Consolidación which transfers its religious foundation and property incomes to the government. The immediate effect is the reinforcement of the protests of the Spanish opposition to the Viceroy, with among them, that of the bishop Manuel Abad there Queipo.

The popular discontent believes with the increase in the taxes, as well as the dissatisfaction with the Peninsulares (Spanish colonists born in Spain), because of the favors granted by the Viceroy to the Créole S (Spanish colonists born in America). Among the latter day a spirit of independence starts to be done inspired by the news of the disorders with Aranjuez and the political defeat of Godoy. Iturrigaray is seen in the obligation to be combined with the Créole party to preserve the capacity.

The April 30th 1803, Napoleon sells Louisiana in the United States for 80 franc million. In 1806, this country requires of Marked Put Calvo to withdraw the Spanish troops of the Orleans News so that the the United States can enter in possession of their new territory, Spanish are withdrawn.

The March 21st 1806, is born Benito Juárez García, future president of the Republic of Mexico with San Pablo Guelatao in the actual position of Oaxaca.

The situation in Spain

In 1808 the troops of Napoleon invade Spain. Whereas the forces Frenchwoman approach Madrid, the royal family decides to flee towards News-Spain. This idea is hardly appreciated by the Spanish population. The March 17th 1808 a riot bursts with Aranjuez. Godoy, which is haï, is apprehended by crowd, is humiliated, stripped its decorations and almost killed. Crowd, honest with Prince Ferdinand (later King Ferdinand VII), force Charles to be abdicated in favor of his son. Ferdinand then makes stop Godoy. But in May, all three - Godoy, Ferdinand and Charles - prisoners by Napoleon are made. This last forces Ferdinand and Charles to be abdicated in his favor. It names then his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, king d' Espagne.

The May 2nd 1808, the people of Madrid takes the weapons against French. It is the spark which starts the revolt of all the country. Everywhere provisional juntas organize themselves to control in the name of Ferdinand VII.

Consequences in News-Spain

The news of the situation in Spain arrives at Mexico City the June 23rd 1808, then on July 14th, the news of the abdication of the King in favor of Napoleon. Cabildo (council of the city) of Mexico City east made up of Creoles. The July 19th 1808, the advisers Juan Francisco Azcárate there Ledesma and Francisco Primo Verdad Ramos present a plan there in order to form an autonomous provisional government of News-Spain with at its Iturrigaray head. The justification being that the motherland was now occupied by foreign troops and that the royal family was captive. The plan is accepted by the Viceroy and Cabildo, but not by the Audiencia.

The July 20th 1808, Diego Leño of Ayuntamiento of Jalapa, claims the behavior of a congress of representatives of all News-Spain.

The creole party continues agitation, asking for the creation of a Junta as in Spain and the formation of a congress. Once again Audiencia is opposed to it asserting that News-Spain is a colony and is not abilitée to make such decisions.

August 9th 1808, at the time of an assembly the notable ones, the lawyer Primo Verdad Ramos is expressed there in favor of a popular sovereignty. Some oidores (members of Audiencia) declare this position seditious and subversive. The inquisitor Bernardo Prado Ovejero declares it there Hérésie and Anathème. The notable ones adopt a position intermédiare then - News-Spain will not recognize any authority higher than that of King d' Espagne.

The August 31st 1808 the crisis is with its paroxism with the arrival of Juan Gabriel Jabat, representing of the Junta of Seville, and carrying a message of the Junta of Asturies. The two juntas claim their recognition as a legitimate government of Spain and News-Spain, by providing evidence of the vacancy of the capacity in the country.

September 1st 1808, Melchor de Talamantes, a Peruvian priest and an intellectual of the creole party, sends two leaflets to Cabildo, in favor of separation of with Spain and convening a Mexican congress. Its conclusions are that all the bonds with Spain being now broken; that it is a question of enacting regional laws, independent of the motherland; that Audiencia cannot speak any more in the name of the king; and that the king having disappeared, sovereignty is allocated from now on to the people.

It seems that an open war is about to burst between the partisans of Audiencia and the Creoles, in favor of Cabildo. Another tumultuous meeting takes place on September 9th.

Deposition of the Viceroy

Iturrigaray strongly leans in favor of the creole party and is largely suspect with the eyes of the party of Spain. It receives the petitions of the Creoles for the creation of a congress and it not recognition of the Spanish junta. It makes send 40 000 pesos in Consulado de Veracruz, manifestly liberal. It names the Creoles at important administrative stations. And most serious, it mobilizes a regiment of dragons of Aguascalientes, stationed with Jalapa. This regiment is ordered by Colonel Ignacio Obregón, a close friend of the Viceroy.

Iturrigaray is about to resign when, the September 15th 1808 the party of Spain, taken along by Gabriel J. of Yermo, stops it. Yermo is supported by the Spanish commercial rich person, by the oidores Aguirre and Bataller, the archbishop and the judges of the Enquiry. Five hundred well armed conspirators attack the palate of the Viceroy at two o'clock in the morning. A soldier is killed. The members of Cabildo are stopped.

After its Iturrigaray capture is led to the Enquiry in order to make accept the population which it was deposited for heresy. His wife and her children are taken along to the convent of San Bernardo. The Vice-reine is cruelly insulted and its jewels are stolen. The Viceroy is deposited by Audiencia.

An inventory of the personal goods of the Viceroy is ordered whose total will prove to be higher than a million pesos. What is immediately regarded as a proof that it used its station in order to personal enrichment.

According to the habit in the event of vacancy not envisaged of the station of Viceroy, the interim is allocated to the oldest soldier of higher rank of the colony, it acts of the Marshal Pedro de Garibay, an octogenarian who is the puppet of the merchants and Audiencia.

Firstly Verdad there Ramos and Melchor de Talamantes are imprisoned and die in their cell. Are also imprisoned Lic. Cristo, Juan Francisco Azcárate and the general French Octaviano d' Alvímar ¹.

Return in Spain

The September 21st 1808, Iturrigaray is returned to Spain as prisoner. It is translated into justice with Cadiz for disloyalty. The loads are however not supported an evidence. It is released by the amnesty issued by the the Cortes in 1810. The impeachment continues however after the amnesty and finishes only at the time of dead of Iturrigaray in 1815, but not before he is condemned to a fine of 435 000 pesetas.

According to the majority of the historians, it was also implied by James Wilkinson in a plot aiming at allowing the invasion of Mexico by Aaron Burr.

References

Diccionario Porrúa de Historia, Biografía there Geografía of Mexico City , 6th ED., v. 2, pp. 1857-58. Mexico City City: Porrúa leading article, S.A., 1995. ISBN 968-452-904-X.
" Iturrigaray there Aróstegui, Jose of, " Enciclopedia of Mexico City , v. 8. Mexico City City: 1987.
García Puron, Handbook, Mexico City known there gobernantes , v. 1. Mexico City City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984.
Orozco L., Fernando, Fechas históricas of Mexico City . Mexico City City: Panorama, 1988.
Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes of Mexico City . Mexico City City: Leading panorama, 1985.

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