the Seville Royal Academy of Fine Arts On Wednesday, November 26, a new session of the session was hosted “The Beginnings of the Royal Viceroyalty of Peru”A collection of lectures from Unicaja Foundation And the institution that has sought since 2018 to deepen it … Knowledge of the Spanish presence in America. After the tour dedicated to New Spain the previous year, interest in 2025 focuses on the personalities that characterized that era, as well as the process of formation of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
The day included two consecutive sessions. First, by Michael Molinaand delved into Meeting between Pizarro and Atahualpa. The second was carried out by the historian Ramon Sierra Contrerascolleagues consider it Pablo Perez Malena– Coordinator of the Day – “One of the best Americans our union has ever known.” His intervention is titled “The Civil Wars and the Establishment of the Viceroyalty in Peru”It dealt with the turbulent political scene that characterized the first years of the Spanish presence in the territory.
Miguel Molina on the right
Sirera began his presentation by teasing the decisive confrontation between… Gonzalo Pizarro and Pedro de la Gasca in Jaquijawana. From this episode onwards, he defined civil wars as conflicts born “by distribution”, driven by “human selfishness”. Something that makes sense considering that it was newly established Viceroy of Peru Then it covered practically all of South America, with the exception of Brazil. “An impressive region due to its sub-continental extent”.
The speaker reviewed the powers of the Viceroy’s authority –The governor, president, general captain, supervisor, and deputy shepherdHe stressed that the size of the region requires a profound reorganization process that will not take a long time to achieve. Hence the reference to the number Viceroy Francisco de ToledoWhich he described as a “unique personality.” He highlighted his efforts to organize the prosecution “following Philippine guidelines” and noted that, overall, “the agency had good governors.”
Potosi as an economic engine
In his speech, the historian noted that the Crown interpreted Peru’s wealth as a spiritual gift: “In exchange for Christianizing the world, they gave them silver veins.” This abundance has crystallized, especially in… Cerro Rico di Potosiwhose discovery consolidated an urban center of gigantic proportions. As confirmed by the historian Potosi It reached 160,000 people“, a number similar to those in London or Milan, the nerve centers of the time.”
Although the hill contains minerals such as silver, zinc, lead and tin, silver was the main protagonist in the colonial period. “Potosi produced four times more than the Zacatecas mine.”in Mexico. According to Ramon, “Two-thirds of the silver that came to Spain came from PeruWhile New Spain contributed the remaining third. Here the lecturer referred to a role FlamesThese animals played a major role in being responsible for transporting the bullion to the port of Arica, and from there it made its way to the major cities.
There is another aspect that was discussed during the meeting Lima is elected capital of the viceroyalty: Locating it in Cuzco, although it may seem logical historically, meant “cutting off the kingdom.” In contrast to Lima Ensuring better communications and more effective control».
The speaker concluded his speech with: Treaties of Tordesillas, Madrid and San IldefonsoAs well as with the transfer of territory from Bolivia to Brazil. He also alluded to the current geopolitics of South America and the validity of borders derived from that historical process. Finally, Sirera concluded his talk by expressing his enthusiasm to continue studying the subject, even though he has been retired for years: “It is our life, our illusion. At my age, I enjoy this world as I have never enjoyed it so much in my life.