Fray Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón,

O.SS.T. , logo = Trynitarze.svg , logo_size = 150px , logo_caption = Flag of the Trinitarians , image = Signumordinis.gif , image_size = 200px , caption = Mosaic of Jesus Christ us ...

(sometimes ''Diego Morcillo Rubio de Suñón de Robledo'') (January 3, 1642,

Villarrobledo Villarrobledo () is a Spanish city and municipality in the province of Albacete, part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It's better known for having the world's largest area covered by vineyards (more than 30,000 has., approxima ...

Albacete Albacete (, also , ; ar, ﭐَلبَسِيط, Al-Basīṭ) is a city and municipality in the Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha, and capital of the province of Albacete. Lying in the south-ea ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

– 1730,

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

) was a Spanish bishop in Peru and twice viceroy of the colony, from August 15, 1716, to October 5, 1716 (interim) and from January 26, 1720, to May 14, 1724.

Biography

At a young age he entered the Calced branch of the Trinitarian Order in

Toledo Toledo most commonly refers to: * Toledo, Spain, a city in Spain * Province of Toledo, Spain * Toledo, Ohio, a city in the United States Toledo may also refer to: Places Belize * Toledo District * Toledo Settlement Bolivia * Toledo, Orur ...

. He studied theology at the

University of Alcalá The University of Alcalá ( es, Universidad de Alcalá) is a public university located in Alcalá de Henares, a city 35 km (22 miles) northeast of Madrid in Spain and also the third-largest city of the region. It was founded in 1293 as a ...

. In Alcalá King Charles II named him preacher of the royal chamber. He also became examiner (''calficador'') for the . On November 21, 1701, he was named as bishop of the Diocese of Nicaraguaduring the papacy of

Pope Clement XI Pope Clement XI ( la, Clemens XI; it, Clemente XI; 23 July 1649 – 19 March 1721), born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 November 1700 to his death in March 1721. Clement XI w ...

and consecrated in 1703 by

Juan de Argüelles Juan de Argüelles (1659 – January 23, 1712) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arequipa, Bishop of Arequipa (1711–1712) ''(in Latin)'' and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Panamá, Bishop of Panamá (16 ...

, Bishop of Panamá. Continuing his ecclesiastical advancement, he was appointed by Pope Clement XI as

bishop of La Paz The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of La Paz ( la, Archidioecesis Pacensis in Bolivia) is an archdiocese located in the city of La Paz in Bolivia.

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

on May 14, 1708, by Pope Clement XI as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of La Plata o Charcas on March 21, 1714, and finally by

Pope Innocent XIII Pope Innocent XIII ( la, Innocentius XIII; it, Innocenzo XIII; 13 May 1655 – 7 March 1724), born as Michelangelo dei Conti, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 May 1721 to his death in March 1724. He is ...

archbishop of Lima The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima ( la, Archidioecesis Limana) is part of the Roman Catholic Church in Peru which enjoys full communion with the Holy See. The Archdiocese was founded as the Diocese of Lima on 14 May 1541. The diocese was r ...

on May 12, 1723. While bishop, he was the principal consecrator of Juan de Necolalde, Bishop of Concepción (1716); José Luis Palos Bord, Coadjutor Bishop of Paraguay (1723); ,

Bishop of Córdoba A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

(1724); and Pedro Morcillo Rubio de Suñón, Auxiliary Bishop of Lima (1724). In 1716, while he was archbishop of Charcas, King

Philip V Philip V may refer to: * Philip V of Macedon (221–179 BC) * Philip V of France (1293–1322) * Philip II of Spain, also Philip V, Duke of Burgundy (1526–1598) * Philip V of Spain Philip V ( es, Felipe; 19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746) was ...

named him interim viceroy of Peru. On August 15 he entered Lima and replaced Mateo de la Mata Ponce de León, president of the '' Audiencia''. Mata had also been serving on an interim basis, since the removal of Viceroy

Diego Ladrón de Guevara Doctor Diego Ladrón de Guevara Orozco Calderón (1641 in Cifuentes, Spain – September 9, 1718) was a Roman Catholic bishop and Spanish colonial administrator. From August 30, 1710, to March 2, 1716, he was viceroy of Peru. Before his term as ...

on March 2, 1716. Morcillo occupied this post until October 5, 1716, when the position was taken up by Carmine Nicolao Caracciolo, Prince of Santo Buono, the official successor of Ladrón de Guevara. Morcillo then returned to his ecclesiastical duties as archbishop of Charcas. At the end of Caracciolo's term, Morcillo once again became viceroy, this time on a permanent basis. He entered Lima and took up the office on January 26, 1720. On the death of the archbishop of Lima,

Antonio de Zuloaga Antonio de Zuloaga or Antonio de Soloaga (Latin: ''Antonius Zuloaga'') (died 21 Jan 1722) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Lima (1713–1722). Biography On 11 Dec 1713, Antonio de Zuloaga was appointed during the papac ...

, he also occupied that office. Among his political accomplishments were a great increase in royal revenues from the colony, and the repulse of the English pirates on the coast. During this time

Pope Benedict XIII Pope Benedict XIII ( la, Benedictus XIII; it, Benedetto XIII; 2 February 1649 – 21 February 1730), born Pietro Francesco Orsini and later called Vincenzo Maria Orsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 May ...

elevated two important Peruvian saints,

Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo (16 November 1538 – 23 March 1606) was a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Archbishop of Lima from 1579 until his death. He first studied in the humanities and law before serving as a profess ...

and Francisco de Solano. Morcillo donated large sums of money to the

Trinitarian Order , logo = Trynitarze.svg , logo_size = 150px , logo_caption = Flag of the Trinitarians , image = Signumordinis.gif , image_size = 200px , caption = Mosaic of Jesus Christ us ...

, to charitable works such as hospitals and schools, and for a convent for

Discalced Carmelites The Discalced Carmelites, known officially as the Order of the Discalced Carmelites of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel ( la, Ordo Fratrum Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo) or the Order of Discalced Carme ...

in the town of his birth. He was recognized as intelligent and a good administrator. He wrote the book ''Clamores de la obligación''. In 1722, Viceroy Morcillo intervened in the Revolt of the Comuneros of Paraguay, where he stood up for Paraguay's deposed governor Reyes. Reyes had been convicted by a judge of the

Royal Court of Charcas The Real Audiencia of Charcas ( es, Audiencia y Cancillería Real de La Plata de los Charcas) was a Spanish '' audiencia'' with its seat in what is today Bolivia. It was established in 1559 in Ciudad de la Plata de Nuevo Toledo (later Charcas, tod ...

of misdeeds - but the Court had given the judge the power to succeed the governor himself, creating an obvious conflict of interest. In a series of letters with the Royal Court of Charcas, he emphasized that the choice of governor was not a judicial matter, that the judge's trial was irregular and invalid, and that Reyes should be restored to his position promptly. Partially from the strain of the affairs of being both Archbishop and Viceroy in his eighties, he retired in 1724. He died in Lima in 1730 and was interred in the crypt of the cathedral.

References

A short biography

External links and additional sources