Andrés Rodríguez de Villegas

Early years

Andrés Rodríguez de Villegas was born in 1580, in San Juan (Puerto Rico), being son of hidalgo, oidor and licensed Antonio Rodríguez de Villegas.

His oldest brother also was called Antonio Rodríguez de Villegas, who was commissioner for the Viceroy Marquess of Marquesado de Montesclaros Juan de Mendoza y Luna in 1607 to ascertain the death of General Captaincy of Philippines, Pedro Bravo de Acuña, in exchange for exercising on an interim basis that government.

Later, on his return to New Spain, he received his doctorate in canon law in 1611 and became chancellor of the "Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico" in 1615. in January 1616 he was named mayor greater of Guachinango (in modern Mexico), and shortly after he was assigned the post of judge of Real Audiencia of Manila in Filipinas, from March 24 of that year. On his return to North America he returned to work as university chancellor in 1619.

Villegas entered the body of Spanish infantry in 1604, where he spent 15 years. He sailed in Moluccas, the Philippines and other places where he obtained the rank of Almiral of the South Sea (Pacific Ocean) and of Captain.

Governor of the province of Margarita

Later he came to isla de Margarita, Venezuela, where he was appointed governor on June 6, 1619. During his government in the island, he obtained 1500 ducats monthly in salary, payable for the Royal Treasury of the Cabildo of La Asunción. After taking office on 1 August of that year, the first thing he did was write to the king, to inform him of the need to improve the fortifications of the island and also to criticize the fortifications of Araya (where the Dutch were taking real cargoes of salt) to be built in at that time.

Between 1620 and 1621 new offensives Dutch emerged with the aim of occupying such salt but were repulsed by Spanish forces, like the previous in November 1605. Therefore, by royal decree of January 15, 1622 in Madrid, was proceed to building the future castle Araya but the it was delayed coinciding with the arrival of several hulk and a fleet of 27 Dutch ships that proceeded to build two fortress and facilities for extracting salt. In the Dutch invasion of the island, on 22 February, Villegas decided immediately left the Pampatar city with reinforcements. In addition, he sent 20 soldiers and 12 Guaiqueri bowmen to Santiago (where were Dutch troops) and he personally commanded them. The soldiers refused to join him, however, when he attacked Santiago. After see the main Dutch landing party from east, he abandoned the attempt. The Dutch vessels attempted a landing in the harbour of Pueblo de la Mar but the Villegas´s troops prevented this. Several Dutch soldiers died where they attempted landing.

On 30 November the same year there was a great naval battle, when 43 Dutch ships attacked Araya with order to halt construction of the new fortress again and permanently seize the peninsula. After two months of fighting, the invasion fleet was defeated on January 13, 1623 by Spanish forces.

In April 1623, Villegas met with the governor of Nueva Andalucía, Diego de Arroyo and military engineers Juan Bautista and Cristobal Roda Antonelli un Araya, to define the criteria deprived in the fortification to be built. Governor Rodríguez presented a project, but prevails the submitted by Roda. That same year, in 15 of May, Rodríguez sent to Spain a letter with plan of your project. In January 1625 he had built the first bastion of what was called «Real Fortaleza de Santiago de Arroyo de Araya» (Royal Fortress of Santiago de Arroyo de Araya), but in February 6 of same year (1625) he informed to king that this building collapsed due to the king's refusal to accept its recommendations to remove the foundation from the beach, hugging the ground with walls.

Then he turned over command of Margarita Island to Garcia Álvarez de Figueroa, June 1, 1625.

According to the Royal Court, he was a just ruler and zealous in the affairs of administration and justice.

Governor of Florida and last years

Later, on 23 June 1630, Villegas was appointed governor of Florida, a position he held until 21 September 1631. He would be supplanted (collectively and on a temporary basis) for two years, perhaps because of illness, by counter Nicolas Ponce de Leon and Sergeant Major Eugenio Espinosa. They ruled provisionally until the death of the incumbent, who was replaced by Luis de Horruytiner, ruling for five years.

Andres Rodriguez Villegas died on September 29 of 1633 in the city of St. Augustine, capital of the Spanish Florida, for reasons not yet documented.