Pedro Rodríguez Cubero

Pedro Rodríguez Cubero
31st Spanish Governor of New Mexico
In office 1697 (appointment in June 6, 1692) – 1703
Preceded by	Diego de Vargas
Succeeded by	Diego de Vargas
Personal details
Born	nearly July 29, 1656 (he was baptized on this date) Huéscar(Granada,Spain)
Died	1704 Mexico City
Profession	Soldier and Governor of New Mexico
Signature

Pedro Rodríguez Cubero(baptized July 29, 1656 – died 1704) was a Spanishadmiralwho served as the governor ofNew Mexicobetween 1697 and 1703.

Biography

Early years

Pedro Rodríguez Cubero was born inHuéscar(Granada,Spain). He was baptized July 29, 1656 as the son of Antonio Rodríguez Cubero and María González Solá.

On June 20, 1674, Cubero joined theSpanish Armyat the infantry unit of the Armada de El Mar Oceano (Ocean Sea's Army), starting as a common soldier (i.e. amusketman). In a successful career, he was promoted to the rank ofadmiral.

The same year he traveled toSicily(at that time possessed by the Spanish) to quell an insurgency atMessina.Curbero subsequently fought in three battles against the Frenchgalleonsand founded the church ofNuestra Señora del PilarofZaragoza.On June 17, 1689, Curbero obtained from KingCharles II of Spainthe office of governor and title of "Captain for Lifetime" ofSan Salvador de la Punta FortressinHavana,Cuba.

Government of New Mexico

On June 6, 1692, Cubero was appointed asCaptain Generaland Governor ofSanta Fe de Nuevo Méxicoby KingCharles II of Spainin place ofDiego de Vargas.Initially Cubero rejected his appointment. He argued, based on information he was able to gather, that the climate of New Mexico was very cold and could harm his health. However his request was rejected. As such Cubero headed to New Mexico in 1697 to assume the governorship of that province, settling in Santa Fe and taking office on July 2, 1697.

In the same year, Cubero participated in an expedition toZuni lands.In 1699, Cubero visited several villages in the west. Two years later, in 1701, after the destruction of Aguatuvi by theHopi Native Americans,Cubero fought against them, killing some and capturing others. Later, Cubero freed the captives.

On the other hand, Cubero had news about corruption of Diego de Vargas, as well as of the imposed fines against him by Santa Fe council officials. However, initially, Cubero rejected the levied fines against his predecessor until the official formal charges convinced him that the former governor had embezzled money and impoverished the population through the poor economic management and maldistribution of food supplies among the population of colonial origin, causing famine between 1695 and 1696 (these offenses were punishable by a fine and the prison). These charges caused an hostility of the population against the government between 1694 and 1696. Vargas was subsequently convicted and forced to pay a fine of four thousandpesos.All of his property was confiscated and he was imprisoned for almost three years.

In 1703, Cubero granted lands to some people, per example Juana Baca.

In August 1703, Cubero heard the news that Vargas was inMexico Cityand headed to Santa Fe to take the charge of governor of New Mexico (Vargas had taken over the government of New Mexico for the second time at the end of 1703). Fearing that Vargas would exert revenge against him because of his imprisonment, penalty fee, and property seizure that Cubero had perpetrated against him, he decided to leave New Mexico and flee to Mexico City, on the excuse he was going to fight Amerindians. Although he was appointed Governor ofMaracaibo, Venezuela,he died in Mexico city in 1704, before he could travel to travel to the South American city to assume the charge.