Manuel Ruiz Urriés de Castilla y Pujadas

Manuel Ruiz Urriés de Castilla, I Count of Ruiz de Castilla ( Ortilla (Spain), 23 November 1734 – Quito (Ecuador), June 1812), was a brigadier of the Royal Army of Spain and a public official of the Spain crown in South America. He held the positions of Mayor of the Mines of Huancavelica, Governor General of Cuzco, and President of the Real Audiencia of Cusco (1793–1806) and of the Real Audiencia of Quito (1807–1812).

During his government in Quito, he was surprised by the Quito Revolution caused by Criolo elements who deposed him from his command on 10 August 1809, and established a Sovereign Junta chaired by Juan Pío Montúfar. Faced with the advance of Arredondo's Royalist troops coming from Lima, the Junta returned him to command (28 October 1809) on condition of a total amnesty, an agreement that infuriated Viceroy Abascal and wasn't respected.

The advanced age of Ruiz de Castilla (76) made him an easy prey to the intrigues of the Patriots, accepting the position of president of the Second Government Junta of Quito on 22 September 1810.

On 11 December 1811, he was deposed and imprisoned, when the Second Government Junta declared its independence from Spain. He was stabbed to death in the Quito prison, during popular riots in June 1812.