Manuel Rojo del Río y Vieyra

Manuel Antonio Rojo del Río y Vieyra (September 24, 1708 – January 30, 1764)[1] was a Mexican (originally Spanish Criollo) friar who served as the 16th Archbishop of Manila and was Governor-General of the Philippines at the commencement of the 1762–1764 British occupation of the Philippines.


Manuel Rojo del Río y Vieyra
The Archbishop of Manila
SeeManila
InstalledJuly 22, 1759
Term endedJanuary 30, 1764
PredecessorPedro José Manuel Martínez, O.F.M.
SuccessorSancho de Santa Justa
Orders
ConsecrationJanuary 29, 1748
by Manuel José Rubio y Salinas
Personal details
Born
Manuel Antonio Rojo del Río y Vieyra

September 24, 1708
DiedJanuary 30, 1764(1764-01-30) (aged 55)
Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
NationalitySpanish (later Mexican)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Archbishop
Manuel Antonio Rojo del Río y Vieyra
Governor-General of the Philippines
In office
July 1761 – January 30, 1764
MonarchCharles III of Spain
Preceded byBishop Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta
Succeeded byDawsonne Drake (in Manila)
November 2, 1762
Simón de Anda y Salazar
January 31, 1764
Military service
Battles/warsSeven Years' War
Styles of
Arzobispo Manuel Rojo del Río y Vieyra
Reference styleMonseñor
Spoken styleSu Excelencia Reverendísima
Religious styleReverendísimo
Ordination history of
Manuel Rojo del Río y Vieyra
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byArchbishop Manuel José Rubio y Salinas
DateJanuary 29, 1748

Early life edit

Rojo del Río was born in Tula, Mexico on September 24, 1708. On 1758, he was consecrated archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila.[2]

On May 31, 1759, the death of Governor-General Pedro Manuél de Arandía left the position vacant. Bishop Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta of the Archdiocese of Cebu succeeded him as well as becoming acting Archbishop of Manila.[3] On 22 July 1759, Rojo del Río was enthroned as Archbishop of Manila. In 1761, a royal decree from Spain ruled that Rojo del Río replace Ezpeleta to become Governor-General.[4]

Del Río died in office on 20 January 1764.

Governorship edit

"Albeit he had the gift of knowledge, he had no judgment, especially in matter military, to which he was hostile and negative, since this was an area outside his profession and character." This was to prove fatal during the capture of Manila.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Archbishop Manuel Antonio Rojo del Rio Lafuente y Veiyra [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
  2. ^ "Archbishop Manuel Antonio Rojo del Rio Vera †". Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  3. ^ de Zuñiga, Joquin Martinez (1803). Historia de las Islas Filipinas (in Spanish). Sampaloc, Manila. pp. 597–600.
  4. ^ "Manila Metropolitan Cathedral". Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  5. ^ Tracy, Nicholas (1995). Manila Ransomed. University of Exeter Press. p. 33.

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by Governor and Captain-General of the Philippines
1761–1764
Succeeded byas British Governor of Manila
1762–1764
Succeeded byas Governor-General of the Philippines
1764
Religious titles
Preceded by
Pedro José Manuel Martínez, O.F.M.
Archbishop of Manila
22 July 1759 – 30 January 1764
Succeeded by
Basilio Hernando de Santa Justa, Sch. P.