Theodor de Croix

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Theodor de Croix

Franz Theodor Freiherr de Croix (Spanish: Francisco Teodoro de Croix ; * June 20, 1730 (according to other sources: 1717 ) at Prévoté Castle near Lille , France ; † April 8, 1791 (according to other sources: 1792 ) in Madrid ) was a knight of the Teutonic Order , Commander in Chief in California and Texas and finally Spanish Viceroy of Peru .

Life

Youth and origin

De Croix was born in 1730 (according to other sources: 1717) as the third child of Alexander Maximilian Franz de Croix, Margrave (French: Marquis ) of Heuchin and his wife Isabel Clare Eugenia. The family came from the old nobility. At the age of 17, Theodore entered the service of the King of Spain.

Career in the Teutonic Order

In 1750 he was accepted into the Teutonic Order of Flanders. In 1756 he received the order cross and was promoted to knight. He belonged to the Ballei Alden Biesen and had to wait until 1770 until he received his first comrade in Ramersdorf near Bonn . From 1776 to 1778 he was Commander of the Teutonic Order Commander St. Aegidius in Aachen , a commander of the Alden Biesen Ballei.

Career in Mexico

In 1766 he accompanied his uncle Carlos Francisco de Croix , who had been appointed Viceroy of New Spain , to the New World. They reached Veracruz on July 18 and Mexico City on August 25, 1760. Here he was first governor of Acapulco , but only had to spend two and a half months per year there. In 1770 he was promoted to brigadier. In 1772 he returned to Spain via Cuba . King Charles III had separated Sonora , Sinaloa , Nueva Vizcaya (Mexico) and California as separate provinces from Mexico and gave Croix, now with the rank of field marshal, the supreme command there. The good relations between the Croix family and the Spanish Minister for India, José de Gálvez y Gallardo , probably contributed to this appointment.

As governor, Croix was largely independent of the viceroy, Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa , with whom he had an intense rivalry. He improved the military fortifications in the California and Texas area . He held his office until February 13, 1783, when he was appointed lieutenant general, viceroy, governor and captain general of Peru.

Term of office as Viceroy of Peru

On April 6, 1784 he arrived in Lima and took over the office from his predecessor Agustín de Jáuregui , who was already dying.

He held the post until March 23, 1790, when he was replaced by the new King Charles IV . Nothing is known about the circumstances, but Croix received the Grand Cross from the Order of Charles III. received and was given the post of colonel of the Royal Walloon Guard Regiment, it can be assumed that he was not dishonored.

Return to Europe and death

On April 17, 1790, Croix embarked for Europe. Less than a year later, on April 8, 1791, he died.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Leden van de Duitse Orde in de Balije Biesen , Bilzen 1994, pp. 167-168.
predecessor Office successor
Agustin de Jáuregui Viceroy of Peru
1784–1790
Francisco Gil de Taboada y Lemos
predecessor Office successor
Heinrich Romanus von Eyb zu Neudettelsau Commander of the Coming in Aachen
1776–1778
Heinrich-Johann von Droste zu Hülshoff