Vasco de Quiroga
After a long, illustrious career, at an age when most today consider retirement, Vasco de Quiroga arrived in Mexico in 1531 to serve as judge, priest, and finally the first bishop of Michoacán.
Quiroga found Michoacán in turmoil, having been ravaged by the vicious conquistador “Bloody” Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán. Quiroga served on the panel that sent Guzmán back to Spain in chains. Like Bartolomé de las Casas, he urged the Spanish king to end the encomienda system that enslaved Natives, and to create independent Native communities instead.
Unlike Las Casas, however, Quiroga succeeded in establishing several such communities, one just outside Mexico City, and the others in Michoacán. Using Thomas More’s Utopia as his guide, he created hospital-towns which he called “Republicas de Indios,” essentially self-governing Native communes where all worked equally for the common good, and each town specialized in one craft: Paracho produced guitars, Tzintzuntzán pottery, Santa Clara copper products, and Nurío woven woolens. These cities continue to be famous for their artistry today.
Vasco de Quiroga died in his 90s, beloved by the Natives he’d served, who’d called him the endearing “Tata Vasco.” A university, a city, and many streets in Michoacán bear his name.
- Streets of Mexico – December 2024 - November 30, 2024
- Streets of Mexico – November 2024 - October 29, 2024
- Streets of Mexico – October 2024 - September 28, 2024
