- El Tapado
"El Tapado" (real name Antonio Benavides, marqués de San Vicente, d.
July 12 ,1684 ) was a mysterious person who arrived inNew Spain in 1683, claiming to be visitor general and governor of the colony, and governor of the castle ofAcapulco , appointed by the Court in Spain.El Tapado disembarked at
Veracruz onMay 22 ,1683 , about the same time that the pirateLorencillo and his men occupied and looted the port. It is possible that he was a confidential messenger or inspector from Queen RegentMariana of Austria , but he was unable to establish his credentials.He was arrested at
Cuetlaxcoapa (Puebla ), accused of being in league with the pirates. From there he was conducted toMexico City in fetters. In Mexico City, in a place called "Xico", he was taken to the scaffold (July 12 ,1684 ). At the time of his execution, an eclipse of the sun was seen. The common people, who had given the marquis his nickname of "El Tapado" (the "covered-up", or "hidden"), viewed the eclipse as a sign from God that an innocent man was about to be executed. Nevertheless, the authorities continued with the hanging.Afterwards, the head of Benavides was taken to Puebla and displayed in front of the door of the La Compañía church. The reason for this is not known.
References
*es icon "Benavides, Antonio," "Enciclopedia de México", v. 2. Mexico City, 1988.
*es icon Orozco Linares, Fernando, "Gobernantes de México". Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.
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