Hernando de Lerma
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Hernando de Lerma Polanco (born November 1, 1541) was a conqueror,
politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, ...
,
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and city founder from
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,
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. On November 13, 1577, Lerma was named Governor of Tucumán, (in present
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) by
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King Philip II. Described by historians as a man of violence, de Lerma had problems with several people from the area, including fellow countrymen. Among those he persecuted were the spokesman of a
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bishop. He also disliked Francisco Salcedo, another Catholic man who built a church in
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. Many of de Lerma's opponents ended up in jail or being killed. Salcedo retired to another city and became convalescent, but he was returned to Tucumán by de Lerma's men after he found him. In Tucumán, Salcedo was tried and jailed. A large number of Salcedo's supporters were killed. In April 1582, de Lerma founded the city of Salta, next to the Arenales River. He foresaw Salta as an economic center, since the Spanish government had opened
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s in
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,
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and
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. Salta's situation between the
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and the port at the
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river, according to de Lerma, would be an advantage for the city, as it connected the city directly with the aforementioned places, and de Lerma believed that
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's government would re-route their shipments through Salta. He had the city named "Lerma City on Salta Valley". Hernando de Lerma befriended Indians who populated the area, believing their hands could be of help to him. He also attracted other Spaniards to the area. After he established the city, however, de Lerma had to face many new rivals and problems. More conquerors arrived in Salta and tried to seize the city, causing multiple feuds. The city went through many periods of disease, and it had been erected in an area with frequent tremors. In 1584, de Lerma was arrested and sentenced to jail in Salta. He appealed, and returned to Spain to take his case to the supreme court, but his appeal was rejected and he was sent to a Spanish jail. While it is known he died in jail, the year in which he died is not known. Historian Paul Goussac said that "de Lerma's administration was nothing but a series of criminal attempts." Salta-born historian
Armando Bazan Armando may refer to: * Armando (given name) * Armando (artist) (1929–2018), the name used by Dutch artist Herman Dirk van Dodeweerd * Armando (producer) Armando Gallop (sometimes written as Armando Gallup) (February 12, 1970 – December 17, ...
describes de Lerma "as malign as a disease" in one of his books.


External links


Camdipsalta.gov.ar page about de Lerma, in Spanish

Salta Tourism
(in Spanish)
Tourism
(in English) {{DEFAULTSORT:Lerma, Hernando De 1541 births Year of death missing 16th-century deaths Spanish city founders Spanish explorers 16th-century Spanish lawyers Spanish politicians 16th-century Spanish people Spanish people who died in prison custody Prisoners who died in Spanish detention Lawyers from Seville