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| Pedro
de Toledo
1st Marqués de Mancera (1585–1654) Biographical 1st Marqués de Mancera 1623–54† 6th Señor de Mancera 6th Señor de las Cinco Villas Viceroy of Peru 1638–48 Knight of the Order of Alcántara 1598 [Spain] Commander of Esparragal in the Order of Alcántara Governor of Galicia 1631–38 Member of the Council for War Ambassador to Germany Ambassador to Venice Lieutenant General of the Galleys of Spain Gentleman of the Chamber Appointed to military service at a young age, Pedro participated in campaigns in Italy and Algiers before becoming commander of all Spanish galleys. He later held political positions, and when appointed the 25th Viceroy of Peru, he sailed from Cádiz with his wife, María Luisa, and their two children to take up the post. Upon arriving in Lima in December 1639, Pedro criticised his predecessor’s overly positive depiction of the colony and submitted a critical report on Peruvian affairs. To generate significant revenue, he introduced the use of stamped paper. Maritime defence became a key focus, as the fleet was in disrepair and the coast poorly protected. Two large war galleons, the Jesús María and the Santiago, were commissioned in Guayaquil and launched in 1644, though the Jesús María was lost in 1654. To fortify Callao, construction began on defensive walls funded through taxes on goods such as wine and sugar. Faced with pirate threats, naval patrols were strengthened, and reinforcements were dispatched to Valdivia against Dutch incursions. To curb corruption, Pedro reformed provisioning and ship maintenance practices, personally contributing funds to shipbuilding efforts. Concerned about silver production, he sought to boost mercury extraction in Huancavelica, recognising its essential role in refining silver from Potosí. The relocation of warehouses from Chincha to Pisco led to the official founding of the town of San Clemente de Mancera in 1640. Measures to regulate indigenous taxation included ordering a new census and addressing abuses, while restrictions on alcohol sales to indigenous people were enforced. Support for religious institutions, particularly the Dominicans, facilitated the foundation of churches, monasteries, and educational institutions. In 1641, the Inquisition held an auto de fe against suspected Portuguese crypto-Jews. Mancera later attempted, unsuccessfully, to expel all the Portuguese from the viceroyalty. After nearly a decade in office, power was handed over in 1648, and he returned to Spain. Opinions on his rule remained divided—some praised his piety and governance, while others accused him of favouritism and arbitrariness. Dissatisfied with the perception of his administration, Pedro became the only viceroy of Habsburg Peru to publish an official account of his rule during his lifetime. His juicio de residencia concluded in 1651 with penalties significantly reduced, yet a memorial defending his tenure in Peru was later published. Place of birth: Úbeda Place of death: Mancera Son of Luis Álvarez de Toledo and Isabel de Leiva, he was married firstly to Luisa Feijoo de Novoa, with issue: • Francisca (see) Pedro was married secondly to María Salazar Enriquez de Navarra in 1617, with issue: • Antonio (see) • Antonia María who married Pedro Garcés, no issue |
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