Viceroyalty of Peru

Peru, 1542–1824. Draft, not yet reviewed

Created in 1542, it covered modern Peru and most of the Spanish Empire in South America, and was governed from the capital, Lima. Peru greatly contributed to the wealth of the region and to Spain, with the discovery of gold, silver, and mercury. The Capitulation of Ayacucho, signed on December 9, 1824, marked the end of the royalist military effort.

Seat of power: Lima

Rulers

Luis de Velasco, 1st Marquess of Salinas

Viceroy of Peru, 1596–1604

He was viceroy of Peru for eight years, from July 24, 1596, to January 18, 1604. After eight years in Peru he found himself tired and sick, and asked to be relieved of the government so that he could return to New Spain.

Portrait of Luis de Velasco, 1st Marquess of Salinas: Unidentified painter, Public domain, file

Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar

Viceroy of Peru, 1622–1629

In Peru he reformed the fiscal system and stopped the inter-family rivalry that was bloodying the domain, mainly in the silver city of Potosí. In 1624 he fortified Lima against pirate attacks.

Portrait of Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar: Unidentified painter, Public domain, file

Pedro de Toledo, 1st Marquis of Mancera

Viceroy of Peru, 1639–1648

He expanded the naval forces and fortified the ports of Valdivia, Valparaíso, Arica and Callao. In Callao he ordered the construction of a 4 kilometres long defensive wall, which was completed in 1647.

Portrait of Pedro de Toledo, 1st Marquis of Mancera: Litografía de Evaristo San Cristóval, Public domain, file

Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, 9th Count of Alba de Liste

Viceroy of Peru, 1655–1661

Because of a shortage of coinage, he ordered the mint reopened in December 1658, but without the royal authority to do so. In 1657 he founded the Nautical Academy of the colony, at the Hospital of Espiritu Santo in Lima.

Portrait of Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, 9th Count of Alba de Liste: anonymous, Public domain, file

Diego de Benavides

Viceroy of Peru, 1661–1666

During his administration, he was much concerned about the condition of the Indigenous, particularly their education and labor conditions. To address these concerns he issued the Ordenanza de Obrajes in 1664.

Portrait of Diego de Benavides: Unidentified painter, Public domain, file

Melchor de Navarra, Duke of Palata

Viceroy of Peru, 1681–1689

He issued a decree to protect the Indigenous against oppressive church taxes. In 1686 he ordered the construction of city walls in Lima and Trujillo to defend against pirates.

Portrait of Melchor de Navarra, Duke of Palata: Evaristo San Cristóval (litografía), Public domain, file

Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón

Viceroy of Peru, 1720–1724

Among his political accomplishments were a great increase in royal revenues from the colony, and the repulse of the English pirates on the coast. He was recognized as intelligent and a good administrator.

Portrait of Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón: Unidentified painter, Public domain, file

José Manso de Velasco, 1st Count of Superunda

Viceroy of Peru, 1745–1761

The most important event of his tenure was the great earthquake of 1746. After the earthquake, building practices were modified, with the adobe style abandoned for quincha construction techniques.

Portrait of José Manso de Velasco, 1st Count of Superunda: Cristóbal Lozano, Public domain, file

Manuel d'Amat i de Junyent

Viceroy of Peru, 1761–1776

In September 1767, he carried out the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Viceroyalty of Peru, following orders from the Crown. He had the fortress of Real Felipe constructed in Callao, finished in 1774.

Portrait of Manuel d'Amat i de Junyent: Pedro Díaz / After Cristóbal Lozano, Public domain, file

Agustín de Jáuregui

Viceroy of Peru, 1780–1784

Almost before the celebrations in Lima in honour of his arrival had ended, he had to confront the insurrection of Túpac Amaru II. He succeeded in defeating Túpac Amaru in 1781.

Portrait of Agustín de Jáuregui: Pedro Díaz, Public domain, file

Francisco Gil de Taboada

Viceroy of Peru, 1790–1796

In Peru he introduced administrative reforms, encouraged literature and the arts, and sent out exploring expeditions. He supported the foundation of the newspaper El Mercurio Peruano in 1791 and founded the Academy of Fine Arts.

Portrait of Francisco Gil de Taboada: WIKI.MGP, CC BY-SA 4.0, file

Ambrosio O'Higgins, 1st Marquis of Osorno

Viceroy of Peru, 1796–1801

When war was declared between Britain and Spain in 1797, he took active measures for the defense of the coast, strengthening the fortifications of Callao and constructing a fort in Pisco. He built a new carriage-road from Lima to Callao, and his principal attention during his short administration was directed to the improvement of means of communication.

Portrait of Ambrosio O'Higgins, 1st Marquis of Osorno: Pedro Díaz, Public domain, file

Gabriel de Avilés, 2nd Marquis of Avilés

Viceroy of Peru, 1801–1806

Earlier, as a colonel, he was sent with a Spanish force to defend Cusco against the revolt of Túpac Amaru II. Avilés had a reputation as a man of good character, kind and pious.

Portrait of Gabriel de Avilés, 2nd Marquis of Avilés: anonymous / Unidentified painter, Public domain, file

José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa

Viceroy of Peru, 1806–1816

Once in office, Abascal promoted educational reforms, reorganized the army, and stamped out local rebellions. He was viceroy of Peru during the Spanish American wars of independence.

Portrait of José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa: Pedro Díaz, Public domain, file

Joaquín de la Pezuela, 1st Marquis of Viluma

Viceroy of Peru, 1816–1821

A defender of the Spanish Crown in South America, Pezuela fought the insurgents. Before becoming viceroy, in 1815 he defeated José Rondeau in the Battle of Sipe-Sipe.

Portrait of Joaquín de la Pezuela, 1st Marquis of Viluma: Unidentified painter, Public domain, file

Culture

Baroque dominated colonial art, though modified by Native traditions.
Most colonial art focused on religious subjects, and the many churches and the paintings of the Cusco School are good examples.
Higher education in the Americas started with the official establishment of the National University of San Marcos in Lima in 1551.

Picture

The Basilica and Convent of San Francisco is a Catholic church building in the Historic Centre of Lima, Peru.

Image: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.