Prudencio de Orobio Y Basterra (–?) was a Spanish merchant, landowner and soldier who served as the

Interim An interim is a period of temporary pause or change in a sequence of events, or a temporary state, and is often applied to transitional political entities. Interim may also refer to: Temporary organizational arrangements (general concept) *Provis ...

Governor of

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

between 1737 and 1740–41 and Mayor of

Parras de la Fuente Parras de la Fuente () is a city located in the southern part of the Mexican state of Coahuila. The city serves as the municipal seat of the surrounding Parras Municipality, which has an area of 9,271.7 km2 (3,579.8 sq mi). At ...

, in

Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...

(in modern Mexico).

Early life

Initially, Orobio was owner of several

Haciendas An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...

(estates) in

Saltillo Saltillo () is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. Mexico City, Monterrey, and Saltillo are all connected by a major railroad and highwa ...

(in present

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

), particularly those of Santa María and Mesillas, although he delivered them to a Captain of the Spanish army, Juan de Tameo, in 1707, "with ten small livestock sites, two major cattle herds and ten of Cavalry". Orobio 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 ...

during his youth, where he was promoted to Coronel.

Official

He left the military when the governor of

Nueva Vizcaya, New Spain Nueva Vizcaya (''New Biscay'', eu, Bizkai Berria) was the first province in the north of New Spain to be explored and settled by the Spanish. It consisted mostly of the area which is today the states of Chihuahua and Durango and the southwest of ...

, appointed him ''

Alcalde Mayor An ''alcalde mayor'' was a regional magistrate in Spain and its territories from, at least, the 14th century to the 19th century. These regional officials had judicial, administrative, military and legislative authority. Their judicial and ad ...

'' (mayor) of

(modern Mexico). In 1737 he was appointed Governor of the province of Texas by the governor of

Nuevo Leon Nuevo is the Spanish word for "new". It may refer to: * Nuevo, California, a town in the state of California * Nuevo (band), featuring singer and musician Peter Godwin * Nuevo (Bayamón), a settlement in Puerto Rico * "Nuevo", Spanish-language vers ...

José Fernández de Jáuregui y Urrutia, who had investigated the mismanagement of Governor Carlos B. Franquis de Lugo in Texas. Little is known about his administration. Osorio reportedly tried to fix all the damage that Franquis de Lugo had done to the missions of

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 1739, an epidemic broke out in Texas, but Prudencio managed to survive. After that, the missions grew and the first stone buildings were built in these locations. OROBIO Y BASTERRA, PRUDENCIO DE, The Handbook of Texas
Retrieved in July 7, 2014, to 02:20 pm. Posted by Marion A. Habig, O.F.M. After April 1738, the governor devised military campaigns against the Apache settlements. However, even after signing peace agreements with the Apaches, assaults and "depredations" of this people in Texas continued between June 1738 and September 1739. Places such as the around San Antonio and the port of Cíbolo were attacked by them. Volume 1 (in Spanish: Resistance movements and indigenous rebellions in northern of Mexico, Volume 1). He traded with the French, but the settlers complained about it, as trade with the French was illegal. However, when he heard that the French were trading at lower Trinity or that perhaps they were tried to settle there, in Spanish territory, he sent expeditions to find them, but these failed. Later, he pursued them until he understood that they merely were trying to earn a few

pesos The peso is the monetary unit of several countries in the Americas, and the Philippines. Originating in the Spanish Empire, the word translates to "weight". In most countries the peso uses the same sign, "$", as many currencies named "dollar" ...

in the forest like any other civilization that was there. In 1739, Governor Orobio y Basterra named modern

Port Aransas Port Aransas ( ) is a city in Nueces County, Texas, United States. This city is 180 miles southeast of San Antonio. The population was 2,904 at the 2020 census. Port Aransas is the only established town on Mustang Island. It is located north of ...

as "Aránzazu Pass" on a map he elaborated, because it served Aránzazu fort. Orobio left office between 1740 and 1741, replaced by Tomás Felipe de Winthuisen.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basterra, Prudencio de Orobio y Governors of Spanish Texas 1730s in Texas 1740s in Texas