Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 8th Duke of Alburquerque

Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 8th Duke of Alburquerque, Marquis of Cuéllar, Count of Ledesma and of Huelma (Spanish, in full: "Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, octavo duque de Alburquerque, marqués de Cuéllar, conde de Ledesma y de Huelma") (1619, Barcelona—March 27, 1676, Madrid) was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Spain, from August 15, 1653 to September 15, 1660. He was also viceroy of Sicily, from 1668 to 1670.

Fernández de la Cueva was born into one of the most aristocratic families of Spain. He entered military service when very young. He served in the infantry in Flanders. Later, as general of cavalry, he fought in the defense of Tortosa and in the siege of Barcelona in 1650.

He made his formal entry into Mexico City to take up the reins of government on August 15, 1653. He was accompanied by his wife, Juana de Armendáriz, marquesa de Cadereyta, the daughter of Lope Díez de Armendáriz, a previous viceroy of New Spain.

Because of the war with the English, he feared an invasion of Spanish territories in the New World. Because of this he strengthened the defenses of Veracruz and San Juan de Ulúa on the east coast of New Spain. He also sent arms and munitions to Jamaica, Cuba and Florida.

He increased trade with the Philippines, Siam and Cochinchina, sending mercury, saltpeter and other mineral products. He ordered the resumption of the minting of gold coins (suspended by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza). He collected the royal rents with care, and sent back to Spain large quantities of silver. He reinforced the Armada de Barlovento, which guarded the coast and shipping. He ordered the construction in Campeche of new ships for the coastal and overseas trade. He also repaired the aqueduct supplying Mexico City with water.

This viceroy accelerated the construction of the new cathedral of Mexico City, visiting it every afternoon, climbing the scaffolding, and giving monetary rewards to the workers.

During a visit to the cathedral on March 12, 1660, a 19-year-old soldier in the viceroy's guard, Manuel Ledesma y Robles of Madrid, attacked the viceroy with a sword. The viceroy survived. Justice was swift for his attacker, who was quickly tried, then dragged around the city and back to the Plaza Mayor, where he was hanged the next day.

The villa of Alburquerque (note the difference in spelling from the name of the current city) was founded February 7, 1660 in New Mexico under his direction. He granted land to more than 100 Spanish families there.

The writers of this period attributed to his government a strong encouragement for the development of the sciences and the arts. His palace was considered a model of elegance and good taste.

He left New Spain for Madrid in September, 1660. Thereafter he was named lieutenant general of marines. He also served as ambassador extraordinary to Vienna to accompany Princess Margarita Teresa, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, when she married her uncle, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1668 Fernández de la Cueva was named viceroy of Sicily, where he remained two years.

He died in March, 1676 in Madrid.

References

*es icon "Fernández de la Cueva, Francisco," "Enciclopedia de México", v. 5. Mexico City, 1988.
*es icon García Puron, Manuel, "México y sus gobernantes", v. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984.
*es icon Orozco Linares, Fernando, "Gobernantes de México". Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.