Martín Enríquez de Almansa was the fourth viceroy of New Spain and one of the most influential in the early stages of the viceroyalty. His government, which lasted from 1568 to 1580, left a profound mark on the administrative, religious and political organization of the territory. His actions not only sought to impose order, but also to lay the foundations for what would later become the guidelines of other viceroys. The measures taken during his mandate, both for their effectiveness and their contradictions, offer valuable lessons on the exercise of power in the viceregal context.
Martín Enríquez de Almansa arrived in New Spain at a delicate moment. His predecessor, Gastón de Peralta, had been the subject of controversy and suspicion, which caused the Council of the Indies to decide to remove him and place the government provisionally in the hands of the Royal Audiencia. When Enríquez is the new president in 1568, the viceroyalty faced tensions between encomenderos, clergymen, Indians and peninsular authorities.
Since his arrival, the new viceroy was characterized by a firm hand and a structured vision of government. He implemented measures to strengthen justice, tax collection and political control, showing an authority that contrasted with the previous uncertainty.
Strengthening of viceregal power and religious control
One of the most visible achievements of his government was the strengthening of the viceregal apparatus. Enríquez managed to establish a functional balance between the various actors of power: encomenderos, religious orders, indigenous authorities and the Royal Audiencia.
But his administration also had important frictions, especially with the archbishop of Mexico, Alonso de Montúfar. The disputes between the two reflect the competition for the control of spaces of power, since the Church played a key role in the daily life of the viceroyalty.
Enriquez sought to limit ecclesiastical power in civil matters, and although he did not succeed in subduing it completely, he did leave a precedent that the viceregal power could openly confront religious authority if necessary.
During his term, important advances were made in the urban planning of Mexico City and other areas. Martín Enríquez promoted public works, price control, regulation of commerce and measures to prevent abuses of power by local officials.
It also implemented stricter controls over the indigenous population and enslaved Africans. These measures, although seen as part of the colonial order, reflect the way in which the viceregal power administered and classified the different social groups under hierarchical and functional criteria for the viceregal structure.
Governance model for future administrations
Enriquez de Almansa’s political profile made him a reference within the viceroyalty system. Both for his administrative organization and his style of government, he was considered a model for later viceroys. In fact, at the end of his mandate in New Spain, he was named viceroy of Peru, which demonstrates the confidence that the Catholic monarchy had in his administration.
His legacy was not only reflected in works or decrees, but also in the way of exercising authority based on a centralist, controlled and vigilant logic, which would characterize a good part of the viceregal period.
Conclusion on Martin Enriquez de Almansa
Martín Enríquez de Almansa was a key viceroy in the early history of New Spain. He knew how to impose order in times of instability, faced tensions with firmness and reorganized various aspects of political and religious power. Although his control policies also reflected the hierarchical and authoritarian nature of the viceroyalty regime, his ability to maintain the cohesion of the territory and establish administrative precedents made him one of the most solid rulers of the period. His mandate became a true instruction of government from New Spain.
–
