Buildings Promoted By Viceroy Toledo In Peru
Viceroy Francisco Álvarez de Toledo was born in the Toledo city of Oropesa in 1515. Member of the Spanish army, from 1569 he held the position of viceroy of Peru, under the command of which he was almost 12 years. He is a highly controversial historical figure whose works have been praised and criticized by historians, sociologists, Americanists, etc.
Main works promoted by Viceroy Toledo
The works of Viceroy Toledo revolve mainly around the administration of the Kingdom of Spain in the Viceroyalty. A Viceroyalty that, at first, understood what is now Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Panama, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia and Ecuador.
The territory was so extensive and so difficult to govern that the first thing Álvarez de Toledo did was organize a series of visits to the different parts that made it up. They were carried out between 1570 and 1575 and their purpose was to register the human and natural resources of the Viceroyalty.
In this way he would know exactly what each one had to contribute to the public coffers. The result of this is its policy of reductions . He also ordered the drafting of the ordinances called ‘Toledo’. With them, all aspects of the life of the inhabitants, both public and private, and of the cities were regulated: councils, justice, taxes, commerce …
Potosí Mint
Founded in 1572 by Viceroy Toledo, it ended up replacing the Lima Mint. It is a huge building of almost 8000 m² with five courtyards. Among them, the main one stands out, in which you can find a mask of the smiling god Bacchus. The gossips say that he laughs at the Spaniards in their retreat from the city.
He also urbanized the city of Potosí with the traditional checkerboard of Latin American cities founded by Spaniards. And he built other buildings such as the Cajas Reales, the Iglesia Mayor and the Cabildo.
University of San Marcos de Lima
It was created by Viceroy Francisco de Toledo in his Provision of 1576. Although, this university had already been operating since before, although linked to the Dominicans since its foundation in 1551. It will be the viceroy who converts it into a secular university by electing as rector the jurist Pedro Fernández de Valenzuela, who was not linked to the order .
Likewise, it moved the host university, moving from the cloisters of the Santo Domingo church to a building next to the San Marcelo church and then to the San Juan de la Penitencia Recollection house. There, in addition, he established 17 chairs with annual income.
As a complement to the university, he founded the Colegio Mayor de San Felipe y San Marcos. It was a school in which to welcome the poorest students or those who had come from other places with the intention of studying at this university in Lima.
Convent of Santa Catalina de Arequipa
During the visit of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo to the city of Arequipa, the City Council conveyed the desire of a group of upper-class Spanish women to found a private convent. This is how the opening license of this impressive monument was obtained, which, more than a monastery, is a city in itself.
Other works promoted by Viceroy Toledo
Viceroy Toledo also promoted many of the urban reforms of the time and of cleaning and supplying the cities. Among them, the most prominent was to establish water supply sources in the streets of the main cities. The most famous, the fountain in the Plaza de Armas in Lima.
He also carried out interventions to channel and channel the Rímac River in Lima. And he built bridges, hospitals and schools all over the city. Likewise, it restructured the entire demography of the Viceroyalty, forcing the indigenous settlers to live in newly created towns or reductions.
For this reason, many of the current towns are from the time of this viceroy. Likewise, it promoted the construction of buildings for councils, hospitals, slaughterhouses, and in general, institutional and relief buildings throughout the Viceroyalty.
