Pedro Sánchez de Tagle, 2nd Marquis of Altamira
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Don Pedro Sánchez de Tagle y Pérez Bustamante, 2nd Marquis of Altamira (1661–1723) was a Spanish aristocrat and is known as "The Father of Tequila".
Contents
Early life
He was the son of Don Andres Sánchez de Tagle, brother of Don Luis Sánchez de Tagle, 1st Marquis of Altamira and Doña Maria Perez de Bustamante. Don Pedro a member of the Tagle Family, an ancient line of Spanish nobles whose origin can be traced back in the Kingdom of Asturias. Don Pedro was born in Spain but later migrated to Mexico and married his first cousin Doña Luisa Sánchez de Tagle, daughter of the 1st Marquis of Altamira.
Father of Tequila
In 1595, King Philip II of Spain banned the planting of new vineyards in Mexico and other Spanish colonies due to the decline of wine trade with Spain. The main reason behind this is because Mexico is self-sufficient in producing its own wines. The king did this to maintain the market for Spanish products in the New World, and reap the taxes on wine exports. The Marquis of Altamira grabbed the opportunity of the neglected blue agave plants. He built his first Tequila factory in his Hacienda Cuisillos, one of the largest haciendas during that time and amassed a great fortune. The Marquis is now known today as the "Father of Tequila". Don Pedro also served as the Prior of the Consulado, which is the head of the largest corporation in Mexico
Feud with the Duke of Alburquerque
On 1702, Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 10th Duke of Alburquerque became the viceroy of New Spain. Upon the Duke's rise to power, he clashed with the House of Tagle, which during these times was the richest and most powerful family in Mexico whose influence reached from Spain to the entire Spanish colonies in America and elsewhere. The Duke of Alburquerque has accused the Marquis of Altamira and some of his family members of illegal actions that breached the rules given by the King of Spain. Don Pedro, with his uncle, Marquis of Altamira and his cousin Don Domingo Ruiz de Tagle were imprisoned. The feud of two of Spain's most important aristocratic families did not go unnoticed to the Spanish Court as the news reached Madrid. Archbishop Juan Ortega y Montañés, who was also the former viceroy of New Spain, complained bitterly to King Philip V of Spain about the actions of the Duke of Alburquerque and the audencia. in 1704, a representative of the House of Tagle defended the family before the Spanish Court. On June 19, 1704, Don Pedro, the rest of the members of the family were released, winning the battle and have the Duke of Alburquerque and his allies pay them a sum of money for all the damages.
Family
Upon the death of his uncle and father-in-law, Don Pedro succeeded him as the 2nd Marquis of Altamira. He and his wife had had three daughters:
- Doña Manuela Sánchez de Tagle who married Don Pedro Perez de Tagle, brother of Don Juan Manuel Perez de Tagle, 1st Marquis of Las Salinas, both which are distant cousins.
- Doña Luisa Sánchez de Tagle who married Don Francisco de Valdiveilso, Count of San Pedro del Alamo.
- Doña Maria Antonia Sánchez de Tagle who married Juan Miranda Argüelles.
He was succeeded by his daughter Doña Manuela Sánchez de Tagle, who became the 3rd Marquessa of Altamira and her husband Don Pedro Perez de Tagle moved to the Philippines where he would serve as its representative in the Spanish Cortes in 1810.
References
- Tagle. Enigma de un nombre, Historia de un pueblo. Author: José Luis Sáiz Fernández
- Nobleza Colonial de Chile. Author: J. Mujica
- Diccionario Heráldico y Genealógico de Apellidos Españoles. Author: Alberto y Arturo García Garrafa
- Nobiliario de los reinos y Señorios de España. Author: Francisco Piferrer
- La Sociedad Chilena del siglo XVIII, Mayorazgos y Títulos de Castilla. Author: Domingo Amunátegui Solar
- Patrons, Partisans, and Palace intrigues: the court society of Colonial Mexico. Author: Christoph Rosenmüller
