Miguel of Grúa Talamanca there Branciforte

Miguel of Grúa Talamanca Branciforte , marked of Branciforte (born around 1755 in Sicily) was an officer of the Spanish army there, then Vice-roi of News-Spain of the July 12th 1794 with the May 31st 1798. It is famous to have been the Viceroy more corrupted of the history of the colony. Its accession with the viceroyalty marks the beginning of the decline in the history of the colonial government.

He was general captain Spanish and Grand of Spain (first class). After its arrival with Mexico City it is made member of the Ordre of the Golden Fleece. Grúa one is protogé of Spanish the Prime Minister Manuel Godoy of which he married the sister, María Antonia. It is named Vice-roi of News-Spain by Godoy the March 26th 1794.

It arrives at Veracruz the June 15th 1794, and takes possession of the government with Mexico City the July 12th 1794.

As an envoy of a Prime Minister corrupted, Grúa is to the first interested chief to obtain money for itself. It uses the pretext of the war between Spain and revolutionary France to confiscate all the properties of the French residents of News-Spain and Louisiana -- what is not negligible. It sells the properties and preserves at its profit a share of the receipts.

In fact, it will preserve for itself part of all that will pass under its control. It sells loads and ranks in the army. It is known in Mexico as corrupted and unable, one of the worst governors of the history of News-Spain. It is a great contrast with its predecessor, Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas there Aguayo, which one regards as the best. Grúa is also opposite in Güemes Padilla by other facts - it starts to control by granting favors to the enemies of the preceding government.

The December 12th 1794, the Brother Servando Teresa de Mier makes a famous sermon of most disrespectful in the Basilique Notre-Dame de Guadalupe of Mexico City. It will be off-set in Spain where it will begin a series of remarkable adventures. The April 27th 1795, the first course of mineralogy in News-Spain is given by Andrés Manuel del Río.

In July 1795 Godoy makes peace with France but the French residents of News-Spain remain suspect with the eyes of the government. The Crown also orders an increased vigilance with respect to the citizen of the United States, not because of some expansionist plot, but because they are like French considered as revolutionists.

At that time, the Inquisition is shown less interested by the heretics and the Protestants but more concerned with the political ideas and the ideal of the French revolutionists. The August 9th 1795 it organizes a Autodafé. One of condemned is Esteban Morel, a French scientist, professor of medicine and collaborator to the Gaceta of Mexico City . He is officially shown of Hérésie, Déisme and Matérialisme. This same court of the Enquiry set in motion procedures against Juan Lauset and other French, showing them to have to express feelings anti-Spanish.

The government of Grúa starts negotiations with the young republic of the United States in order to officially establish the border between the two countries. A Peruvian priest living in Mexico City, Melchor de Talamantes (1765-1809) directs the delegation of News-Spain.

When Spain, maintaining in peace with France, declares the war with the British the October 5th 1797, Grúa confiscates the goods of English who lives in the colony, to his only profit.

In order to flatter the king Charles IV and Godoy, the Viceroy orders with the sculptor and Spanish architect Manuel Tolsá (1757-1816) a large equestrian statue of the king. The first stone of the base will be posed the July 18th 1796, and the statue finished in 1803. This statue is today named El Caballito in Mexico City.

The Ayuntamiento of Mexico City starts continuations against the Viceroy for corruption, and to have wasted public funds in ridiculous projects in particular. The Viceroy obtains win and Ayuntamiento condemned to pay the expenses of the cause.

Again the war bursts with France, the Grúa Viceroy tries to raise regiments in the provinces, it hopes well still to draw from the benefit of the sale of warheads. However its incompetence and its dishonesty now notorious and are reported to the Court. It is revoked in 1798 and Miguel Jose de Azanza is named to replace it.

References

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: Leading panorama, 1988.
Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes of Mexico City . Mexico City City: Leading panorama, 1985.

Random links: