
Francisco Javier Venegas (2 December 1754-18 February 1838) was the Spanish Viceroy of New Spain from 14 September 1810 to 4 March 1813, succeeding Francisco Javier de Lizana y Beaumont and preceding Felix Maria Calleja del Rey.
Biography[]
Francisco Javier Venegas de Saavedra y Raminez de Arenzana was born in Zafra, Province of Badajoz, Spain in 1754, and he served in the Spanish Army during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He became a divisional commander in Andalusia following the Battle of Bailen, and he fought in many battles of the Peninsular War before being given command of the Army of La Mancha in 1809. He was victorious at the Battle of Talavera before passing up an opportunity to recapture Madrid from the French, and he served as military governor of Cadiz during the French invasion of Andalusia in 1810. The Duke of Albuquerque Jose Maria de la Cueva, a political rival of Venegas, had him appointed Viceroy of New Spain in 1810, and he suspended tribute from the Native Americans and mestizos, prohibited revolutionary publications, and established military juntas in every province of New Spain. His tenure as Viceroy was dominated by the start of the Mexican War of Independence, which was initiated with Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's Grito de Dolores two days after Venegas took office. His army was initially defeated at the Battle of Monte de las Cruces in 1810 before decisively defeating Hidalgo at the 1811 Battle of Calderon Bridge, and the principal revolutionary leaders were captured and executed shortly after. His arbitrary measures led to his recall in 1813, and he was made a marquis and Captain General of Galicia in 1818. He died in 1838.