don Antonio de Mendoza, viceroy

References-Documentary

pre-1530:

AGI, Mexico, 1088, L.1, "Registros de oficio y partes: Nueva España, 1529-30" [cédula to Mendoza, November 9, 1529; he is asked whether he would take on the government of New Spain; first nominated was the conde of Oropesa; declined because of ill health; then Mendoza was selected; essentially the same cédula making the same offer was sent to the mariscal of Fromesta; response to Mendoza’s reply, November 19, 1529; Mendoza apparently has agreed to serve and has asked to come to Madrid; the queen asks what business he has in Madrid]

1530-1540:

AGI, Indiferente General, 415, L.2, "Registro de Instrucciones, 1509-65” [fols. 352-358v, see also fols.359-359v and 360-364; instrucciones de gobierno a Mendoza, April 25, 1535];

AGI, Contratación, 5787, N.1, L.4, “Nombramiento don Antonio de Mendoza como Virrey, April 17, 1535” [Mendoza: comendador, member of order of Santiago, camarero of the king; tasks as viceroy: instruction and conversion of the Indians and preservation of settlement and enrichment of the land; salary 3,000 ducados, plus 3,000 pesos as president of the audiencia, plus 2,000 pesos for guard corps; Casa de Contratación paid only 3,000; king first nominated bishop of Santodiego as president of the audiencia; could not serve because of ill health; now Mendoza is appointed; goods that Mendoza was allowed to take duty free for himself and his criados: 15 dozen shirts; 5 dozen caps; 66 doublets; 132 pairs of hose; 512? pairs of shoes; 12 cassocks of paño; 12 capes; 1 outfit of manta; 2 dozen silk swordbelts, 100 leather pairs, 2 dozen belts, 4 dozen garters; 100 varas of silk or cloth, tabelcloths and napkins; 1 pipa of wax candles, 1 pipa of tallow candles, 12 dozen large wax candles; 24 pipas of wine; 2 pipas of vinegar; 50 arrobas of oil; 50 dozen iron fittings; 50 marks of wrought silver; 6 pairs of silk horse trappings; 6 pairs of leather horse trappings; 6 estradiota saddles; 2 dozen wrought bits; 2 dozen wrought stirrups; 6 complete harnesses; 6 gineta saddles; 12 pairs of ropes; 1 dozen enameled saddletrees; 1 dozen breastbands; 3 dozen cihies?; 50 açiones de caballo, both brida and gineta; 100 pairs of reins; 12 breastbands with bells; 6 adargas; 12 pairs of gineta stirrups; 6 pairs of boots; 12 dozen silk soles and half soles?; 2 dozen pairs of buskins; up to 50 ducats of pharmaceuticals, up to 3 arrobas of all kinds; 200 books; 4 dozen pairs of gloves; 4 dozen gineta bits; 3 quintals of soap; 1 bale of paper; 6 horses; from Jan. 1, 1524 - December 31, 1534 Mendoza was alcalde of the fort of Aventoruiz; as such he was owed 166,666 maravedís per year];

Actas de Cabildo, Tomo III, p.121 [August 20, 1535, Mendoza has arrived at Veracruz, cabildo votes to send members to meet him]; p.123 [August 25, 1535, welcoming committee increased from 2 to 4]; p.131 [November 12, 1535, a fiesta to celebrate the safe arrival of Mendoza in México set for the 14th];

AGI, Contratación, 4676, L.4, "Account book, 1535-1549" [May 15, 1535, payment of 3,000 ducados to don Antonio de Mendoza, as salary as visorey y governador y presidente de la audiencia];

AGI, Patronato, 180, R.67, “Antonio de Mendoza, virrey de México: ordenanzas sobre indios, 1536” [ordenanzas hechas por el virrey sobre el buen tratamiento de los indios, June 30, 1536];

Millares Carlo y Montecón, Indice y extractos, I:2371 [fols. 495r – 496r: July 16, 1537, Poder traspaso granted by Juan de Hermosa to Juan Bautista de Alcocer to collect debts from 14 persons (including several directly associated with the viceroy), including don Luis de Castilla, el alcaide Lope de Samaniego, Juan de Salamanca (nephew of Santa Cruz), and Antonio de Mendoza];

AGI, Patronato, 184, R.27, “Asuntos de gobierno de México, 1537,” [dos cartas del virrey] [Cabeza de Vaca a España] [asuntos de buen gobierno];

Pacheco y Cárdenas, Colección de documentos inéditos [2:179-211: letter, Mendoza to the king, December 10, 1537; Vázquez de Coronado and Beatriz evidently married during 1537; Mendoza praises Vázquez de Coronado and recommends him for grant; Vázquez de Coronado sent to the mines of Amatepeque to investigate an uprising of blacks and Indians];

Instituto Hispano-Cubano de Historia de América, Catálogo de los Fondos Americanos del Archivo de Protocolos de Sevilla, [#195, p.56: Libro del año 1538--Oficio XV, Libro I--Escribanía, Alonso de Cazalla--fol. 182--19 de enero, Francisco de Lucena, secretario del Illustrisimo Virrey de Nueva España];

Warren, Vasco de Quiroga and his Pueblo-Hospitals of Santa Fe, [p.99: Mendoza was in Michoacán by the end of 1539; his mission was partly to try to settle the dispute between Quiroga and Juan Infante over the land of Santa Fe de la Laguna];

AGI, Patronato, 180, R.76, “Antonio de Mendoza, virrey de México: prohibición juego de naipes, 1539.”

AHN, Diversos, 43, documento 3, “Junta de los obispos de México, Antequera, Michoacán y religiosos, April 27, 1539.”

1540-1550:

AGI, Patronato, 21, N.2, R.3, "Información sobre poblamiento de Nueva Galicia, 1540" [testimony concerning members of the expedition, February 21-27, 1540] Mendoza orders testimony; witnesses: Gonzalo de Salazar (vecino, regidor, factor, México), Pero Almídez Cherino (vecino, veedor, México), Fernando Pérez de Bocanegra (vecino, householder, México, 14 yrs), Juan de Caso (vecino, México), Antonio Serrano de Cardona (vecino, regidor, México, 15 years in Nueva España), Sebaes or Serván Béjarano (vecino, México), Cristóbal de Oñate (vecino of México, veedor of Nueva Galicia), Diego Ordóñez (vecino of Puebla), Juan Fernández (vecino of Purificación)];

“Formation of a Company between Mendoza and Pedro de Alvarado, Tiripitío, November 29, 1540,” in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 20, [ordered by king: joint effort in discovery of the mar del sur to the west and the coast of Nueva España] [Mendoza and Alvarado to have 1/3 of all that is found] [Mendoza’s contribution: Coronado expedition and Alarcón’s voyage (3 navios; have already returned)] [Alvarado’s contribution: 9 naos, 1 galera, 1 fuste, 1 fragata with horsemen and footmen] [Alvarado gets: 1/5 of past profits from Vázquez de Coronado’s discoveries + 1/5 of the past profits from what Alarcón has found + 1/2 of future profits from discoveries by ship + 1/2 of Vázquez de Coronado’s future discoveries] [Mendoza gets:  1/3 of Alvarado’s profits from his ocean voyage + 1/2 of what the king has already given Alvarado + 1/2 of Alvarado’s ships] [no sharing of past costs, but equal sharing in future costs] [ships to be built in Guatemala, but loaded and unloaded only at Acapulco] [both Alvarado and Mendoza, knights of Santiago];

AGI, México, 19, N.2\1, “Carta del virrey Antonio de Mendoza, 1537,” [October 24, 1541 (domingo); relates his arrival at the peñol de coyma in Nueva Galicia] [mande Al Veedora per almyldez  y a francisco maldonado y A guerrerro que trayan la Avanguardia y Al capitan Urbaneta con los Arcabuzeros que se Adelantasen Açercallo con los yndios tarasCos que traya y quen no los Acometiesen hasta tanto que yo llegase con toda la gente y ydosellos y dexado yo començado A caminar todo El fardadarJe y A Hernán Pérez de bodanegra y thesorero merida En la Retaguarda me fuy con la gente de cavallo Al peñol y quando llegue halle que tenyan ganadas dos Albarradas yo di Una Vuelta Alrrededor y puse quadrillas de cavallo En las partes que me paresçio y hecho que seria Una ora Antes que depusiese el sol];

AGI, Indiferente General, 417, L.1, "Registro de capitulaciones: Pedro de Alvarado, 1538-74” [fol.55v: cedula a Mendoza concediéndole la mitad de los provechos de la armada del adelantado Pedro de Alvarado, July 26, 1541];

AGI, Justicia, 168, "Luis de Quesada, María Jaramillo, su mujer, y Pedro de Quesada, su hijo, contra Francisco de Velasco y Beatriz de Andrade, su mujer, todos vecinos de México, sobre el derecho a la encomienda de indios del pueblo de Xilotepec, 1553-73," [don Luis de Quesada, doña María Jaramillo su mujer y Pedro de Quesada, su hijo, contra Francisco de Velasco y Beatriz de Andrada, su mujer, todos vecinos de México, regarding Xilotepeque, 1553-73: testimony from August 1541 is inserted: a Martín Hernández is notario público; document describes don Antonio de Mendoza as comendador de la orden de Santiago, hijo del ilustrisimo señor don Iñigo de Mendoza, conde de Tendilla];

AHN, Diversos, 22, documento 36, “Carta del virrey de Nueva España, don Antonio de Mendoza a Francisco de Cobos, 1542,” [Carta del virrey de N. España sobre el estado de esa tierra; Carta de D. Antonio de Mendoza, virrey de Nueva España, al comendador mayor de León participándole el estado de cosas con motivo de la muerte del adelantado [D. Pedro de Alvarado y su mujer doña Beatriz]. 2 hjs. fol. Publ. Cart. Indias, XLV, facs. R), March 10, 1542: fol. 2r, “de francisco vazquez de coronado ny de lo de çivola no ze mas de lo que escrivi a vuestra señoria los dias pasados para san juan en lo que tiene cartas los navios que envie a socorarle rompieron todos los mastiles y se quedan en la ysla del marquez; otorz dos e mandado adereçar para que este verano hagan la misma navegaçion de la costa”]; [March 10, 1542, Mendoza to Francisco de Cobos, comendador de León, secretario del consejo] [2r: de francisco vazquez de Coronado ny de lo de çibola no se mas de lo que escrivi a Vuestro señorio los dias pasados para San Juan Creo que terne Cartas--los naVios que enVie a SoCoRelle Ronpieron todos los mastiles y se quedaron en la ysla del marques otros dos he mandado adereçar para que este Verano hagan la misma naVegçion de la Costa];

AGI, Indiferente General, 1963, L.8, "Registro: Sevilla, 1541-43," [fols.102v-103:cédula, licencia al virrey para pasar 20 esclavos negros a Nueva España, February 17, 1542];

AGI, Justicia, 258, Pieza 1, "Visita hecha al virrey...por Francisco, Tello de Sandoval, 1544," [Thursday, March 27, 1544, pregón for visita in Mexico City; [121 questions in Tello de Sandoval’s interrogatorio];

AGI, Patronato, 57, N.2, R.1, “Méritos y servicios, Antonio de Mendoza, 1545,” [expenditures for expeditions from own funds, méritos y servicios, March 1545] [witnesses, royal officials who held keys to the caja: Antonio de la Cadena, temporary factor, age 35+; Gonzalo de Salazar, regidor and former factor, age 50+; Bernardino de Albornoz, alcaide de atarazenas and temporary contador, age 30+; Hernando de Salazar, factor, age 30; Juan Alonso de Sosa, tesorero general, age 40+; Juan de Burgos, alcalde ordinario, temporary contador, temporary factor, age 40+; Juan de Cuevas, ecribano mayor de relaciones, age 30+; Rodrigo de Albornoz, contador general, age 40+; Cristóbal de Benavente, fiscal, age 40+; Rodrigo Muñoz, lieutenant treasurer, Veracruz, age 30+] [all witnesses agree that Mendoza spent nothing from the royal treasury for expeditions by land and sea; Benavente very positive witness, had known Mendoza since 1535] [Mendoza’s attorney: Francisco Ramírez] [king falsely informed that Mendoza spent royal funds in discoveries] [Mendoza to Nueva España, 1535] [received only his salary and ayuda de costa of 3,000 ducados] [Tejada is judge for this información] [Mendoza’s mayordomo: Agustín Guerrero] [Gonzalo de Salazar, Hernando de Salazar, Antonio de la Cadena, and Rodrigo de Albornoz knew Mendoza in Spain] [Juan de Cuevas and Gonzalo de Salazar went with Mendoza to send off nearly all the expeditions and armadas, specifically to tierra nueva] [Mendoza’s son Francisco de Mendoza came to Nueva España] [Mendoza convalescing from an illness, away from México more than 30 or 40 days] [opinion of oydores Ceynos and Tejada: Mendoza in debt because of expenditures for exploration, should be recompensed];

AGI, Justicia, 260, Pieza 4, "Charges against Cristobal de Benavente, fiscal, 1543-47," [Mendoza is witness; Mendoza, more than 52 years old] [Mendoza: el dicho liçenciado benaVente Vive honrradamente];

AGI, Justicia, 264, Pieza 3, "Probanza of Mendoza, Antequera, 1547," [interrogatorio, question 199:  yten si sben etc, que la gente que salio de la villa de san(t) miguel de culuacan que es el potrer lugar de galizia de la nueva españa para yr en descubrimiento de la tierra nueva de çicola con el capitn general francisco Vazquez coronado fueron hasta docientos y cinquenta españoles de a cavallo los quales asi par sus personas como para su Carruaje armas y bastimentos y municiones y otras cosas necesarias para el dicho viaje llevaron mas de mil Caballos y azemillas] [interrogatorio, question 200: yten si saben etc. que asimismo con la dicha gente española salieron de la dicha villa de sant miguel de culuacan hasta trecientos yndios poco mas o menos los quales fueron de su voluntad a servir en l dicha jornada y el dicho visorrey les mando socorrer y se les socorrio con dineros y provisiones y a los que eran casados y dexavan aca sus mugeres les proveyo de lo necesario para su sustentamiento] [interrogatorio, question 203: yten si saben, etc. que por razon de los dichos caballos y carruaje que llevaron los capitanes y españoles los yndios fueron reservados de llevar cargas de los capitanes y españoles] [interrogatorio, question 204: yten si sben, etc. que de todos los dichos yndios que fueron a servir en la dicha jornada murieron tan solamente hasta veinte o treinta] [interrogtorio, question 205: todos los tamemes que los yndios dieron asi para la dicha armada que llevo francisco vazquez...se les pago muy a su contento];

AGI, Justicia, 271, Pieza 6, "Visita a Hernando de Herrera, relator, 1546 and 1547,” [de parte witness is Antonio de Mendoza, more than 50 years old--signed];

AHN, Diversos, 23, documento 14, “Carta del licenciado Gasca al emperador en la que suplica que envíe a la mayor brevedad una persona calificada, que asuma el cargo de virrey y presidente de la Audiencia del Perú, cuyos cargos estima no deben estar separados, recomendando para el caso a D. Antonio de Mendoza, virrey de Nueva España, 1547,” [2 hjs. fol, 1547-08-11, licenciado Gasca recommends Mendoza as virrey del Perú; “es bueno y religioso cristiano;” “el gobernación de Nueva España…estar ya asentado"];

AGI, Justicia, 259, Pieza 3, "Visita hecha por el licenciado Francisco Tello de Sandoval, 1544-48," [visita a Antonio de Mendoza, decargos] [treinta y cinco cargo que se me haze que  he entendido en ynViar gente de guerra por mar y por tierra a descubrir nueVas tierras y yslas que me he ocupado en ello y por malostratamientos que reçibieron los yndios naturales de la provincia de jalisco de la gente que ynVie a las dichas armadas y descubrimyentos espeçialmente de los que ynVie a la tierra nueVa de çibola los yndios se rrebelaron y alçaron contra el servicio de su magestad];

AGI, Patronato, 180, R.70, “Antonio de Mendoza, virrey de México: servicios de los indios, 1535,” [Relación del Virrey de Nueva España don Antonio de Mendoza sobre los servicios personales que hacían los yndios en aquellas provincias, 1540s] [argues for moderate use of paid tamemes];

1550-1560:

AGI, México, 68, R.27, N.91, “Cartas de Audiencia, 1533-1570,” [1550, Mendoza is very sick and cannot sign, putting his son in charge, as reported by the audiencia];

AGN, Instituciones Coloniales, GD72, Real Audiencia, Mercedes, vol.3, exp.606, 1550, [fols. 214r y v: December 1550: Mendoza is about to leave for Peru from the port of Guatulco; he is allowed to use tamemes to transport food, clothing, and other things to the port];

Encisco Contreras, Testamentos [p.415-440: 6 Nov. 1550, [AGI, Contratacion, 220B, R.39, Will of Francisco Pilo, 6 Nov. 1550, Agualulco, corregimiento of Izatlán, native of Aranda de Duero, son of García Pilo and Juana de la Torre; Debts: Juan de Villareal, 4000 pesos de minas; Pedro Hernández Calvo, 144 pesos de minas; owes for a black sailor that his brother bought from Luis del Castillo; owes various amounts to Cristóbal de Oñate; Juan de Zaldívar, 202 pesos, 2 tomines; the Portuguese, Juan Fernández, who died in Colima, whose albacea was Fernando Gallego, 70+ pesos for having served at sea; Francisco Calderón, deceased, 34 marcos and 1 ounce of silver to his heirs; Juan Gallegos?, deceased, find out if he owes him something; don Antonio de Mendoza, 2000 pesos de tepuzque];

1560-1570:

AHN, Diversos, 24, documento 75, “Relación y descripción, original del capitán Juan Pablo Carrión, sobre el Maluco e islas comarcanas, a las que fué con la expedición que mandó el virrey, D. Antonio de Mendoza, desde Nueva España, la que estima conveniente para que el monarca esté en antecedentes de sus riquezas y aprovechamiento al realizar los nuevos asientos y repartimientos de tierras, 1566,” […teniendo en cuenta las diferencias habidas en la isla de Cebú entre castellanos y portugueses, así como las pocas tropas que el rey de Portugal mantiene en aquellas colonias. 4 hjs. fol. Nota: En este año, después de algunos incidentes ocurridos en la isla de Cebú con la expedición de Legazpi, dieron informes al monarca, Urdaneta, Alonso de Santa Cruz y otros, entre los que parece se encuentra éste, que justifica su información diciendo lo hace para que la real hacienda y corona no sea 'defraudada como lo fué la S.C.C. magestad del emp. nro. s.', frase con que alude al convento de Zaragoza de 1529 con el reino de Portugal, 1566]

Other info:

López de Gómara, Historia general [fol.368?: Mendoza spent more than 60,000 pesos on the expedition];

Enciclopedia Universal Ilustrada: Europeo-Americana [34:622: born, Granada, end of 1400s; died, Lima, 1552] [second son of Iñigo López de Mendoza, Conde de Tendilla, Marqués de Mondéjar; brother of Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Bernardino de Mendoza (consejero del estado, capitán general de las galeras de España, comendador de Mérida, contador mayor de Castilla, teniente de Cartagena)];

Relatives:

?AGI, México, 18, “Reales Cédulas, testimonios, 1529-1715,” [royal cédula, 1596, don Gracía de Mendoza marqués de cañete siendo mi visorrey de las provincias del piru]; [royal cédula, 1587, marqués de Villamanrique pariente mi virrey governador y capitan general de la nueva españa];

Francisco de Mendoza, son

González, Noticia histórica documentada de las célebres minas de Guadalcanal, [p. 143, “Conisión á don Francisco de Mendoza para que visite y reconozca y ponga cobro y recaudo en las minas del Reino, Contadurías generalesm num. 3072, 24 de abril de 1556; p. 148, “Instrucción á don Francisco de Mendoza para la comisión que tenia de visitador y administrador de la minas, Contadurías generales, num. 3072, 24 de abril de 1556: El Rey--…Primeramente habeis de ir á la villa de Guadalcanal donde están decubiertas ciertas minas de plata que hallaron Martín Delgado y otras personas, de la cuales tiene la administración por mi mandado Agustín de Zárate…"];

Escudero Buendía, Francisco de Mendoza "El Indio", 1524-1563, [Caballero y Comendador in Socuéllamos en la Mancha (1557), Primer Señor de Estremera y Valdaracete in Alcarria (1562), encomendero of Pocona, Callapa, Ayo-Ayo, Apaseo, Orizaba and other places in Bolivia and Mexico (1556); alcaide de la fortaleza de Bentomiz y Vélez-Málaga; ilustrísimo señor y administrador de las minas de los reinos y de Cuadalcanal in Extremadura and Andalucia; factor de las especias in Mexico y Castilla; visitador general de la provincias de la NS and Peru; capitan general de las galeras of Spain, virrey y coadjutor "de facto" en el gobierno de las Indias españoles;  lived to be only 40; a second son of don Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco and doña Catalina de Carvajal and grandson of don Iñigo López de Mendoza "el gran Tendilla" and of Luis de Vargas y Carvajal, contador mayor of the Catholic Kings; descended from the marqués de Santillana; given the sobriquet of "el indio" to distinguish him from his cousin, Francisco de Mendoza, "el moro" and because of his time in the Indies; don Iñigo de Mendoza, "el largo" was born around 6 Dec. 1518, died in the battle of San Quintín at the age of 39 without having married (p.19); sister-doña Francisca de Mendoza, condesa de Alcaudete; dowry documents executed in Mexico 5 Oct. 1546; married his cousin-doña Catalina de Mendoza; infancy and birth in Socuéllamos, Ciudad Real, 1524-1535; 1535-1542-alcaide de Bentomiz y Vélez Málaga; 1536-1542-capitán de galeras in las batallas de Alborán y Argel; 1542-1550-apprenticeship as a future viceroy: when Mendoza was sick, the author presumes that his son acted in his stead; the Tello de Sandoval residencia put a stop to the son's directly taking over; 1547-capitan general de la armada contra Gonzalo Pizarro; Pizarro killed viceroy Núñez de Vela; Gasca named as president; Francisco sent as captain general to support Gasca; refers to a list of 95 people paid for this Gasca mission-footnote is Gerhard, Peter. Síntesis e índice de los mandamientos virreinales. Orden a los oficiales reales de que paguen, por intermedio de Gil Ramirez de Avalos $2,711/5/9 a la gente que se alisto para ir en la armada del Peru. page 20, expediente n.9, 21 April 1550. M, 44v-46; some listed: Juan Fernández Ladrillero, piloto; Diego Sanchez, tonelero; 600 people went; alarde-Ref: Pérez Bustamante, Ciriaco. Los origenes del Gobierno virreinal en las indias espanolas. don Antonio de Mendoza. Primer Virrey de la ns. Anales de la Universidad de Santiago, vol.III. Santiago, 1928, page 110; 15 Nov 1547-armada suspended; but Francisco de Mendoza did go, but by that time most of the rebels had changed sides from Pizarro to Gasca; Francisco recommended to replace his father, but Luis de Velasco was named; 1550-went to Peru with his father; Francisco had encomiendas on the rio Apaseo, near the huge holdings of the Pérez Bocanegras; Francisco sold his encomiendas to buy smaller ones in Castilla, Estremera and Valdaracete, hoping to convert them into a ducado, marquesado or condado, but it didn't happen; Those who went with Mendoza and his son-Gil Ramírez Dávalos (camarero), su criado Antonio Felipe, Francisco Duarte, blacks, a hindu slave from India by way of Portugal (p.104); When his father died in Peru, he was again recommended by the crown sent the marqués de Cañete, another Mendoza; 1552-Left Peru and arrived in Sanlucar; 1554-56- repartimientos in Peru; 1556-63-encomendero of Pocona, Bolivia, but he was still in Spain; 1556-57-visitador general de la minas de los reinos; mines discovered by Martin and Gonzalo Delgado in Guadalcanal; mines discovered in Aracena; 1556-fell sick from tercianas; 1557-his brother and uncle killed in the Battle of San Quintín, and he took over the encomienda of Socuéllamos as Comendador; named to head the galeras and Francisco had already named an administrator, Pablo de Melgosa, who then took over the mine administration in Guadalcanal (p.142); interested in the cultivation of jengibre (ginger?) AGI Indiferente 738, N47c, regarding his cultivation of it; 1557-1563-Comendado de Socuéllamos; 1559-1563-Señor de Estremera, Madrid; 1562-1563-capitan general de las Galeras; 1563-dies perhaps under mysterious circumstances in Oran because of some disagreements with the marques de los Velez and a battle on the penon de Velez de la Gomera; his sister, Francisca, inherited];

AGS, Contadurías Generales, exp.3072 [because of the great need for lead at the mines of Guadalcanal, the king orders lead sent from Cadiz and Sevilla; he refers to “don Francisco de Mendoza hijo de don Antonio de Mendoza virrey que fue de nueva españa y del peru a quien está cometida la visitación de las minas de estos reynos [July 30, 1556]"]; [a list of licencias para buscar minas refers to a license dated in January 1557 to a Juan de Navarro and Alonso García en terminos de Ucles; in a later letter Juan de Navarro, vecino de Torrubia, and Alonso García are reported as actually having found a source of silver and other metals at Ucles; the king’s letter of acknowledgement is dated in January 1557]; in August 1556 because Agustín de Zárate, the king’s criado and administrator of the mines, is indisposed, Francisco de Mendoza is asked “en este medio  ponga persona que asista en el entretanto que vos [Zárate] pudiesedes tornar];

AGI, Contratación, 920, N.27, "Bienes de difuntos: don Francisco de Mendoza, 1572," [Bienes de don Francisco de Mendoza, natural y vecino que fue de Madrid, 1572; he died in Honduras, haviendo sido alcalde mayor de Nicaragua at least by 1566]

Surname
Mendoza
Brief Biography

Don Antonio de Mendoza was the principal architect and funder of the Expedition to Cíbola of 1539-1542. A member of an extremely powerful Castilian family, he was the second of five sons of don Iñigo López de Mendoza, the second conde de Tendilla and first marqués de Mondéjar. He was born near Granada in Spain in late 1490 or early 1491. Don Antonio's family had been early and ardent supporters of Cristóbal Colón's plan to sail west from Iberia to Asia. Chosen in 1529 to serve as Nueva España's first viceroy, don Antonio did not take up his position in Mexico City until 1535. Less than a  year later, the survivors of the Narváez expedition reached the viceregal capital with news of large, prosperous settlements far to the north of Mexico City. Convinced that those large settlements represented places in Asia, Mendoza deliberately began making plans to send an expedition there, which he himself initially planned to lead. The plans Mendoza formulated included three phases: a terrestrial expedition northward to a place eventually known as Cíbola; a coastal voyage to the north; and an open-ocean voyage to the west. All three enterprises were aimed at reaching Asia. In 1539 he lost confidence in the information he had about the Tierra Nueva of Cíbola. He appointed his protégé Francisco Vázquez de Coronado to lead the Expedition instead. The Expedition to Cíbola failed to find Asia, and both of the sea voyages also initially came to naught. Don Antonio served as viceroy of Nueva España until 1550, when he was transferred to the viceroyalty of Peru, where he died in July 1552.