Antonio de Benavides: Difference between revisions
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When he finally returns to Tenerife with 70, he rejected the king's offer, Philip VI, of appointing him commanding general of the Canary Islands, putting as an excuse his weariness after years of dedication. He died in January 9, 1762 in [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], in the Nuestra Señora de Los Desamparados hospital. Today his remains lie in the parish of the Conception of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]].<ref name="CYCSRA" /> |
When he finally returns to Tenerife with 70, he rejected the king's offer, Philip VI, of appointing him commanding general of the Canary Islands, putting as an excuse his weariness after years of dedication. He died in January 9, 1762 in [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], in the Nuestra Señora de Los Desamparados hospital. Today his remains lie in the parish of the Conception of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]].<ref name="CYCSRA" /> |
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== Legacy == |
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* On January 9, 2012, the [[Cabildo de Tenerife|council of the Tenerife]] island, the natal island of Benavides, paid tribute to Benavides to coincide with the 250th anniversary of his death. The insular corporation held a wreath at the grave of Lieutenant General whose remains are located in the Iglesia de la Concepción de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and organized a lecture by the general and president of the Tertulia Amigos (Friends Tertulia) Emilio Abad. <ref name="tribute to Benavides">[http://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/politica/Cabildo-Tenerife-tinerfeno-Antonio-Benavides_0_218729225.html eldiario.es (first digital newspaper of Canary): El Cabildo de Tenerife ensalza la figura del militar tinerfeño Antonio de Benavides] (in Spanish: The Cabildo de Tenerife exalts the figure of Antonio de Benavides, Tenerife´s military). </ref> |
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* In this year, The council of this island restored the grave of the remains of Lieutenant General of Tenerife, which is located at the main entrance of the temple of Santa Cruz, as was desire of Benavides. This operation was performed because it was broken and was also used to undertake cleaning and repair. The text, which has remained intact in these 250 years, collected the following recording: "Aquí yace el Excmo. Sr. D. Antonio Benavides, teniente general de los Reales Ejércitos, natural de esta isla de Tenerife. Varón de tanta virtud, cuanto cabe por arte y naturaleza en la condición mortal" (in Spanish:"Here lies HE Mr. Antonio Benavides, Lieutenant General of the Royal Armies, a native of the island of Tenerife man of such virtue,.. as it should be for art and nature in mortality").<ref name="tribute to Benavides"/> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 21:50, 11 August 2015
Antonio de Benavides | |
|---|---|
| 34º Royal Governor of La Florida | |
| In office August 3, 1718 – May 21, 1734 | |
| Preceded by | Juan de Ayala y Escobar |
| Succeeded by | Francisco del Moral y Sánchez |
| Governor of Veracruz | |
| In office 1734–1745 | |
| Governor of Yucatán | |
| In office 1745–1750 | |
| Preceded by | Manuel Salcedo |
| Succeeded by | Juan José de Clou |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1678 La Matanza de Acentejo, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) |
| Died | January 9, 1763 Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Profession | General and Administrator (governor of Florida, Veracruz and Yucatán) |
Antonio Benavides Gonzales (or Antonio Benavides Vazan or Bajan[1]) de Molina (1678–January 9, 1763) was an important Lieutenant General of Spanish Army, who held a leading position in the Americas as Governor and Captain General of Florida (1718–1734), Veracruz (1734–1745) and Yucatan (1745 - 1750), as well as Governor and Captain General of Manila, Philippines (September 1750 - ?). Before his appointment as colonial governor in anywhere of Americas and Philippines, he excelled in several battles of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1710, in a of which (developed in Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha) he saved the life to Philip V, the first Bourbon King. He is also considered the better Military Governor of Florida. During his government in Florida, on several occasions, he defeated to the English who were trying to conquer Florida, on land and sea, and he repressed the piracy. He also managed to set a peace treaty and the friendship between the Appalachian Amerindians (who were the worst enemies of the colony), and the Spanish, treaty and friendship that lasted without interruption while he was ruling the colony. Benavides also defended the rights of indigenous people and established the first African- American slave militia in the modern United States, in Florida, to defend Saint Augustine of British attacks
Early year
Antonio Benavides was born in La Matanza de Acentejo in Tenerife, (Canary Islands, Spain) in 1678. Before his twentieth birthday, he joined the Spanish army as a volunteer in Havana, and he fought in Flanders, Seville and Tortosa (Catalonia, Spain).[2]
Benavides also excelled in several battles of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1710. So, in August 20, 1710, he participated in the Battle of Saragossa (in Saragossa, Spain), in which he starred in a historic event because it in a surprise attack, he managed to seize the enemy's artillery. Benavides granted a similar number of troops to the flanks as the axis of cavalry, he managed put their men in the center of the military readiness of the aspirant to the Spanish throne, and after to neutralize the artillery, seized all pieces and came to use against its owners. However, the serious damage suffered by troops loyal to Bourbon and a disorderly retreat became futile the efforts of Spanish military and the Spanish army was defeated (despite that the action of Benavides is considered the most important action in the battle).[2]
Also in a battle in Villaviciosa de Tajuña (developed in 10 September, 1710, in Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, in which the Bourbon and Habsburg armies were faced), he saved the life of Philip V, the first Bourbon king. In that battle, Benavides gave his own horse to Philip - of who was friend - realizing that a member of the opposing faction had just launched a mortar bullet on his horse - the only one white horse in the battlefield - and that Philip V did not have spare horse to get out unscathed from the situation before the bullet arrive him. He resisted walk, and with serious injuries, the enemy attacks. The bullet knocked and killed to white horse of Philip (already without him), and Benavides (who was near the horse) was also badly wounded, being to the brink of death. By direct order of the King - because Benavides was given by dead -, he was sought among those killed in the battlefield and found badly wounded. Then, the surgeons of Philip V cured him and saved him from certain death, returning after to the battlefield until the end of the battle. [3]
So, thanks to this feat, he received the degree of Brigadier of Cavalry.[2]Eventually, Benavides also reached the rank of colonel of the Royal Cavalry. He was considered un exemplar military in the Royal Guard Corps.[1]
Government in la Florida
First years of Government in la Florida (1718 - 1721)
Soon after, the King of Spain, Philip V, eager to use their services and reward their loyalty, made him governor and captain general of Florida in August 3, 1718,[4] which was then a government of difficult and dangerous administration, having been detected corruption and serious administrative irregularities. In order to he could establish his rule in Florida as soon as possible, forgave him the oath before the Royal Council, an oath very common at that time, and told he should make the oath to the authority governing the Canary Islands. After, he should embark in the fleet of warships San Jose, San Francisco and San Antonio, that would do a stopover in Tenerife to go then to the Cuba island.
Florida at that time was very poorly organized. Ruled by Juan de Ayala y Escobar, who was accused of smuggling, Florida was attacked frequently for the native tribes, who occupied the border areas, and for English settlers of South Carolina who daily harass the colony for to hinder their trade and get the abandonment or the evacuation of the province, that they much coveted. The man was needed to come to curb these problems and maintain the Spanish domination should have great courage and perseverance to achieve their purposes. Antonio de Benavides had all that qualities and he had shown him in the military. After arriving in Florida, he studied and he visited the region, he was informed of their needs and their resources, he acknowledged the cause of his discomfort and he knew the name of the people who the originated. He wanted to stem the wrong, so he separated the employees embezzlers (inter alia people, to Ayala y Escobar who went arrested and he sent him to a Cuban prison (then ruled Cuba to Florida)), he withdrew to his accomplices, he rewarded to those who did their duty, and he called some people who had great knowledge for integrate them into his government. To avoid complaints of the disaffected and the twisted interpretation that may give these measures, he reported to the king of the status of the colony and he them explained at length that this needed reform and that he them had executed with hoping that his conduct was approved and for be allowed to he continue forever with the same functions and prudent management of the affairs of that colony. The king approved his policy and he continued the same office until the end of its mandate. He, on several occasions, defeated to the English who were trying to conquer Florida, on land and sea, and he repressed the piracy. He also managed to set a peace treaty with Appalachian Amerindians, who were the worst enemies of the colony, and with their affable and kind treatment and with their offers religiously fulfilled, he managed that they respect to the Spanish subjects and that the Spanish and Appalachian Amerindians exchanged between them proofs of friendship and affection, which lasted without interruption while he was ruling the colony. Benavides also defended the rights of indigenous people. As a reward for these services, the king ascended him to rank of Field Marshal and he increased his salary as a token of his appreciation of its high military skills, administrative and political. Thanks to the administration of his government, his great charity to the poor and his respect for all people in Florida, which made no distinction between classes or persons, Benavides was highly respected and admired for every Floridian.[2]
However, on May 14, 1719, while Benavides governed Florida, Pensacola was captured peacefully by Governor Bienville of French Louisiana, with a fleet of ships and a force of Amerindian warriors. The French occupied Pensacola until August 1719, when a large Spanish force arrived and compelled the small French garrison to surrender.[5][6] This Spanish occupation only lasted until September 1, when a French fleet arrived to reassert French control.[5] However, in 1722 Pensacola was officially returned to Spanish control, though the French garrison did not withdraw until 1726. A hurricane devastated the area in 1722, so that the Spanish forces rebuilt the Fort San Carlos de Austrias, in Pensacola.
Last years in the Government in la Florida (1721 - 1733)
In 1721 Benavides began an investigation in the historic documents about the Spanish claims from the coast of Georgia. [1]
In 1724, Antonio de Benavides asked the Spanish Crown the sending a grant, which had been scheduled for Florida, by land rather than by sea. In addition, it was decided to maintain a land route between the western part of New Spain (current U.S. Southwest, Mexico and Central American mainland) and Florida, to eliminate delays that caused the lack of ships in Veracruz.
It was also thought to create a line of presidios along the Gulf Coast, between Veracruz and Apalachee, whose aim was initially to protect the overland, but eventually could be a way to develop in him a lucrative coastal trade. However, this proposal was little attended by the Council.[7]
In 1726, Benavides was operated for appendicitis, so he had to rest for three months in Havana. In this time, Ignacio Rodriguez Rozo occupied his place as governor of Florida, of interim way. [8]
After his return to Florida, Benavides created, this same year (1726), a militia of black slaves to defend Saint Augustine of British attacks, appointing to black slave and veteran of the Yamasee War of 1715 Francisco Menéndez to lead the militia (he establishes the first African- American slave militia[9]). Although Benavides promised the freedom of the slaves of the Spanish, he ignored the order of 1693 of King Charles II who established the law that gave the freedom to the fugitive slaves, as Benavides thought this only was applied to the slaves arriving to Florida when war was taking place.[10] In 1727, Spanish raiders and The Carolinas runaways destroyed a plantation on the Edisto River (South Carolina) and carried away another seven blacks. However, Benavides offered money to expel to blacks and English of Florida. [11]
Perhaps for fear of reprisals that the British could do against him, he decided to sell several fugitive slaves in 1729, in order to repay the money to British owners, and refusing to release the militants, including Menendez, despite their loyalty (Benavides even sold Menendez to a Spanish colonist[12]). Four years later, in 1733, the King of Spain banned the sale of runaway slaves and gave freedom to the soldiers after four years of service to the crown.[note 1][10]
In 1733, Benavides proposed sending the Carolinas runaways for promote a rebellion in this place and "pay them for English scalps", but the Council of the Indies refused to do this. [11]
Government in Veracruz and Yucatan
In May 21, 1734 [4] the king had appointed to Antonio de Benavides governor of the province of Veracruz and the Castle of San Juan de Ulúa, Mexico. When the news reached Florida, arose a general feeling of disgust in the province because all the inhabitants of the region did not believe back to have a governor like Benavides. In his new job he continued showing, the same conditions that he had as governor in Florida. However, he also show increasingly his charity in the new territories governed. However, over the years, he felt that he should leave politics, but to not harm the interests of the colony, request their release and their headquarters. The king, who was then Ferdinand VI, refused to grant their wish. However, the Spanish crown did accept, in 1745, your request of create the position of Lieutenant of King in Campeche, in the Captaincy General of Yucatán, for the purpose of ensuring the military command in the main port province, port that had the characteristic of being the target of frequent and bitter attacks by English pirates and buccaneers who roamed these shores. Who occupied this position by royal appointment thereafter, it will also correspond ensure automatic succession to the office of governor and captain general of Yucatan, while the final appointment of the king or the viceroy was given, as appropriate.[13]
So, because the war against England was about to begin again, was given the Captaincy General of Yucatán to Benavides, so as the command of the expedition formed to defend the coast of Tabasco and Honduras, with the rank of Lieutenant General. [2]
Because the extremely low wages of the military in Campeche, Benavides proposed to the Spanish crown that vacancies income of encomiendas, to create a fund that would financially compensate the military. This proposal caused great unrest among the "encomenderos" across the province, who saw, by that fact, jeopardize their income and prerogatives in favor of the militia. So great was the backlash that Governor Benavides had to withdraw the application. Immediately, it was thought that the governor turned to face against the vested interests of wealthy families, who were the ones who enjoyed the privileges of the encomiendas.[14]
A third initiative that would also withdraw Antonio Benavides during his tenure, it was to create a watertight for salt production in the region. In this case the adverse reaction was much wider, since this project would hurt the majority interest since salt was a staple whose price and trade affected everyone.[13]
In 1748 the Spanish crown published the prohibition of the production and consumption of aguardiente of cane in whole Spanish America, which was very popular in Florida, prohibition that some saw very well. This originated a royal ordinance applies to all Spanish America that had originated in the complaint of the Spanish big manufacturers of wine they had seen decrease their exports to the colonies and sought royal protection for their interests.[13]
Antonio Benavides completed its task in Yucatan in 1750 when, in September, he was appointed governor of Manila, in Philippines.
Last years
On the 27th of 1750 he sailed from the port of Sisal, Yucatan to Veracruz, where he departed for Acapulco, and then embark on the Pacific Ocean towards Filipinas. [15]
When he finally returns to Tenerife with 70, he rejected the king's offer, Philip VI, of appointing him commanding general of the Canary Islands, putting as an excuse his weariness after years of dedication. He died in January 9, 1762 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Nuestra Señora de Los Desamparados hospital. Today his remains lie in the parish of the Conception of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.[2]
Legacy
- On January 9, 2012, the council of the Tenerife island, the natal island of Benavides, paid tribute to Benavides to coincide with the 250th anniversary of his death. The insular corporation held a wreath at the grave of Lieutenant General whose remains are located in the Iglesia de la Concepción de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and organized a lecture by the general and president of the Tertulia Amigos (Friends Tertulia) Emilio Abad. [16]
- In this year, The council of this island restored the grave of the remains of Lieutenant General of Tenerife, which is located at the main entrance of the temple of Santa Cruz, as was desire of Benavides. This operation was performed because it was broken and was also used to undertake cleaning and repair. The text, which has remained intact in these 250 years, collected the following recording: "Aquí yace el Excmo. Sr. D. Antonio Benavides, teniente general de los Reales Ejércitos, natural de esta isla de Tenerife. Varón de tanta virtud, cuanto cabe por arte y naturaleza en la condición mortal" (in Spanish:"Here lies HE Mr. Antonio Benavides, Lieutenant General of the Royal Armies, a native of the island of Tenerife man of such virtue,.. as it should be for art and nature in mortality").[16]
Notes
- ^ Francisco Menendez and several others slaves only got freedom in 1737 with the new governor of Florida, Manuel de Montiano.[10]
References
- ^ a b c E. Worth, John (2007). The Struggle for the Georgia Coast. The University of Alabama Press. Page 175.
- ^ a b c d e f Francesca Hampton (2006-09-23). Antonio Benavides Gonzales de Molina (1678-1763): el canario que salvó al Rey (In Spanish: Antonio Benavides Gonzales de Molina (1678-1763): the Canarian that saved the King).
- ^ El héroe que salvó de la muerte al primer Borbón (in Spanish: The hero who saved from death the first Bourbon), Jesus Villanueva interview. Posted in La Gaceta by Alejandra Ruiz-Hermosilla, 20 November, 2014.
- ^ a b Worth, John. Spanish Florida - Governors. University of West Florida. Retrieved in July 8, 2014, to 00:10.
- ^ a b Bense, Judith A. Archaeology of colonial Pensacola. University Press of Florida, 1999. P.14
- ^ Marley, David. Wars of the Americas: a chronology of armed conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present. ABC-Clio, 1998. P.242
- ^ J. Tepaske, John (information posted in internet, in May 27, 2013). History City News: Economic Problems of Florida Governors 1700-1763. Part 3 of 4.
- ^ Paul Eugen Camp (compiler; 2001) Conquistadores in the land of flowers. USF (University of South Florida)
- ^ Ste.Claire, Dana (2014). St. Augustine 450th Commemoration: 450 years of the African American experience. Page 5. Retrieved in July 14, 2014, to 18:40.
- ^ a b c Discover Our Shared Heritage. Travel Itinerary American Latino Heritage: Fort Mose Site, Florida. National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved in July 14, 2014, to 15:25pm.
- ^ a b Landers, Jane. Essay - Tulane University. The Atlantic Transformations of Francisco Menéndez. Chapter 5. Page 14. Retrieved in July 14, 2014, to 15:10pm.
- ^ Famous Figures in Florida's Spanish History. Magazine 2001.
- ^ a b c Juan Francisco Molina Solis. Historia de Yucatán durante la dominación española (in Spanish: History of Yucatan during the Spanish domination). Mérida, Yucatán, 1904-1913. Universidad de Nuevo Léon. Consulted 8 April, 2012.
- ^ Miguel Lanz. Historia de Campeche (in Spanish: Campeche History). Written in 1905. Consulted in 13 de April, 2012.
- ^ Casares G. Cantón, Raúl; Duch Colell, Juan; Antochiw Kolpa, Michel; Zavala Vallado, Silvio et alia (1998). Yucatán en el tiempo (in Spanish: Yucatan in the Time). Mérida, Yucatán (Mexico).