Diego de Peñalosa

Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa Briceño y Berdugo (1621–1687) was a Lima-born soldier who served as governor of Spanish New Mexico in 1661–1664, following all his appointments to replace Bernardo López de Mendizábal in 1660.

Peñalosa's administration was notable for its positive treatment of the Pueblo Indians and their religious practices. This earned him the enmity of the Roman Catholic friars, who were determined to Christianize native populations and exploit free Indian labor. He was later declared a blasphemer and heretic by a Catholic tribunal. Forced into exile, he became an active opponent of Spanish interests and offered his services to England and France, Spain's rivals in the colonization of the New World. On March 6, 1662, he led the Quivira Expedition. This expedition was later turned into a legend with a variety of fantastic objects.

Biography Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa Briceño y Berdugo was born in Lima, Peru in 1621. For an extended time, he worked with the imperial bureaucracy.

New Mexico Government He arrived to province in 1661. After arriving in New Mexico, which was already in his government, Fray Alonso de Posada was appointed priest of the province. They investigated corruption and abuse of power by the previous governor, Bernardo López de Mendizábal. Thus, Peñalosa asked New Mexico residents who report any complaints they had with Mendizábal, receiving more than 70 complaints against the former governor throughout the month. Thanks to that, in 1662 the civil hearing and the Inquisition in Mexico pronounced Mendizabal guilty due to his behavior in the province. However, Mendizabal died in prison before the final verdict was reached.

Personal life Era su padre, el encomendero Alonso de Peñaloza Briceño, casado con Micaela Salazar Solis. Diego de Peñalosa married on three occasions. He married María Ramírez de Vargas (from La Paz, modern-day Bolivia). Together they had two sons: Aldonza Peñalosa Briceño and Ana Peñalosa Briceño. After the death of Vargas, married Jacoba de los Ríos y Cabrera. After he left Peru, he married another woman in France.