Pedro de Rivera y Villalón was a

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

in the Spanish army, who was sent to

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

in 1724 to study the presidios near Louisiana.

Biography

Pedro de Rivera y Villalón was born between the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. In his youth, he joined the

Spanish army The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century. The ...

, in which, over time, he managed to ascend to the rank of general. Rivera was in

for a time. This was so until in 1724 he was sent him to north New Spain by the

Viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning "k ...

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Am ...

. His journey began November 21, 1724, and ended June 21, 1728. He wrote descriptions of Nayarit, New Vizcaya, Nueva México, Sonora, the Nuevo Reino de Filipinas, and of Coahuila and Nuevo Reino de León. He studied the

presidios A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th and 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Spanish Philippines in particular, were cent ...

that New Spain had to the borders with Louisiana, to check if these were able to protect the region. Rivera traveled a very extensive space, formed by more than 8,000 miles. The military man was interested in the life of the population, so he left reflected in his diary many particularities of the Texan population, such as the local customs, the description of Native Americans and products that were cultivated. He also indicated the areas where people lived.RIVERA Y VILLALON, PEDRO DE , The Handbook of Texas Online
by Robert Bruce Blake. Retrieved December 21, 2010, to 19:50 pm. In 1727 the engineer Francisco Alvarez Barreyto, member of his expedition, drew up a map of the borders with Louisiana. In addition, Rivera revised political management of

Melchor de Mediavilla y Azcona Melchor de Mediavilla y Azcona was the acting governor of Texas between 1727 and 1731. Biography Mediavilla y Azcona was born in the early eighteenth century. He was appointed Captain (land), Captain of the Presidio of Bexar. Later, Govern ...

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of the Presidio of Bexar, and found several errors in his administration of the presidio. Rivera recommended to the Virrey to reduce the number of officials of the presidio, to reduce the price of the supplies that the garrison needed, and to remove some of their equipment, because not all that was in the garrison was necessary. He also indicated that the Presidio de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores should to be removed and the number of people who formed the garrison of Nuestra Señora del Pilar was too high and should be limited to only 60 people. Mediavilla accepted Rivera's suggestions and these were carried out, despite the fact that the

Viceroy of New Spain The following is a list of Viceroys of New Spain. In addition to viceroys, the following lists the highest Spanish governors of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, before the appointment of the first viceroy or when the office of viceroy was vacant. M ...

, Juan de Acuña, had refused to approve its realization. This caused disaffection among Mediavilla and the viceroy.MEDIAVILLA Y AZCONA, MELCHOR DE , The Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 21 December 2010, to 12:45 pm.
/ref> On March 5, 1731 (and following the Rivera's advice), three missions were renamed in San Antonio: Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de los Hainai changed its name to Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña, San Francisco de los Neches was renamed San Francisco de la Espada, and San Jose de los Nazones was renamed San Juan Capistrano. Presidio La Bahía was not removed, but his report prompted to consider the transfer of three missions located in

East Texas East Texas is a broadly defined cultural, geographic, and ecological region in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas that comprises most of 41 counties. It is primarily divided into Northeast and Southeast Texas. Most of the region consi ...

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

in 1731. Rivera left Texas on June 29, 1728. After his trip, Rivera asked that the Texas economy be strengthened. He also pointed out the need to suppress the

Apaches The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño and ...

, and replace the

presidio La Bahía The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahía, or simply La Bahía is a fort constructed by the Spanish Army that became the nucleus of the modern-day city of Goliad, Texas, United States. The curre ...

with one established in

River Medina The River Medina is the main river of the Isle of Wight, England, rising at St Catherine's Down near Chale, and flowing northwards through the county town Newport, towards the Solent at Cowes. The river is a navigable tidal estuary from Newpor ...

to control the Apaches.

Books published

• Pedro de Rivera, ''Diario y derrotero de lo caminado, Haviendo transitado por los Reinos del Nuevo Toledo, el de la Nueva Galicia, el de la Nueva Vizcaya, el de la Nueva Mexico, el de la Nueva Estremadura, el de las Nuevas Philipinas, el de Nuevo de Leon. Las Provincias, de Sonora, Ostimuri, Sinaloa, y Guasteca.'' Guatemala, Sebastián de Arebalo, printer, 1736.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villalon, Pedro de Rivera y Spanish soldiers