Antonio de Vergara Azcárate

Antonio Vergara Azcárate y Dávila was born in 1612 in Cádiz, Spain. His parents were Francisco de Vergara y Azcárate, lieutenant general and captain of artillery, and Inés de los Angeles y de Ávila. In 1621, with royal authorization, Alonso Turrillo de Yebra founded the first mint, known as the Casa de la Moneda, in Cartagena de Indias, in the New Kingdom of Granada.[3] He was accompanied by his wife, Maria de Vergara Azcárate, and his 10-year-old nephew, Antonio, from Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain.

Antonio became governor and lieutenant captain general of the province of Cartagena, a position he held until 1637. He also served in Mérida and Maracaibo.[4] Vergara was responsible for the defense of Cartagena de Indias on several occasions.[5] The general of artillery, Diego de Villalba, who ruled in colonial America, appointed him fieldmaster, or Maestre de Campo, for the defense of Cartagena.[6] He had previously worked as an accountant in Zaragoza, in the province of Antioquia. In particular, he was treasurer from 1637 to 1683. At the same time he was treasurer of the Casa de la Moneda, he was also special commissioner of justice.[7]

Antonio held several important posts. He was in charge of collecting taxes for the Armada de Barlovento. He was also knighted in the Order of Santiago. He also took on the important roles of chief bailiff for the Inquisition and captain and sergeant major in Santafé. In particular, between 1673 and 1674, he was mayor of the city of Santafé.[5]

In the colonies, individuals held their administrative positions for long periods of time, a common practice inherited from the American kingdoms. This practice had a significant impact on both the individuals who held these administrative positions and their families. The Bourbon reforms of the 1700s led to the emergence of a bureaucratic aristocracy that played a crucial role in stabilizing the newly established kingdoms.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Vergara family, descendants of Antonio, were recognized as a bureaucratic dynasty whose influence lasted from 1740 to 1810. This lasting influence was due to Antonio's remarkable 50-year tenure as treasurer in the 17th century.[8]

In 1650, while serving as governor, Antonio received a royal decree granting him authority over the "encomienda de indios del pueblo de Serrezuela". This included the regions of Serrezuela and Tabio, inhabited by various indigenous groups such as the Guancatas and Tenjos. In this area, Antonio founded an estate called Casablanca, which was passed down through generations of the Vergara family from 1651 to 1866. Finally, in 1866, one of his descendants, Jose Maria Vergara y Vergara, sold it to José María "Pepe" Sierra. The colonial house built by Antonio still stands today in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia, having remained in the Vergara family for 215 years.

During his long tenure as treasurer, which spanned 50 years, Vergara faced allegations of corruption in his administration. The allegations included the improper use of royal prerogatives such as quintos and signiorage. The Supreme Court and the Council of the Indies visited the Santafé Mint to investigate these allegations. However, the results were always in favor of Vergara Azcárate, proving his innocence. He remained treasurer until his death in 1690.[9][10][11]