Alonso Mercado y Villacorta

Who is Alonso Mercado y Villacorta?

Alonso de Mercado y Villacorta, Marquis of Villacorta was a Spanish civil servant, acting in the Río de la Plata area.

Born in Catalonia, he was Governor of Tucumán from 1655 to 1660. He was conned by Pedro Bohórquez, a Spanish adventurer who promised Mercado access to the hidden location of Inca treasures and afterwards had to suppress a revolt of Indians led by Bohórquez.

Afterwards, he was nominated as Governor of the Río de la Plata, a position that he held between 1660 and 1663. He ordered the transfer of the city of Santa Fe to its present location. In 1662 he expelled the Society of Jesus from its initial location on nowadays Plaza de Mayo, as its buildings interfered with shooting practices of nearby Buenos Aires' "fortress".

His request for royal authorization to commerce with two foreign ships a year was denied. Nonetheless, he allowed Dutch ships to dock in the Buenos Aires port. Because of his tolerance with the contraband of goods and slaves, he was subjected to a tribunal of grievances, but the case was dismissed. He was demoted and became again Governor of Tucumán. He founded San José de Metán and fortified the city of Talavera de Esteco to prevent further attacks from the Indians. He conducted a final campaign against Calchaquí Indians, and ordered the exile of 200 families of Quilmes Indians to Buenos Aires.