Don Antonio de Acuña y Cabrera Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0458

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection consists of twelve manuscript documents bound in a single volume detailing the military career of don Antonio de Acuña y Cabrera, a Spanish infantry captain. All twelve documents are written in Spanish and reference events from 1522 to 1647, beginning with a brief history of the Crown’s activities in previous centuries before, then concerning the assignments given and honors awarded to Acuña y Cabrera. The documents reference the relationships between Madrid and several cities in Latin America, most notably Lima, La Plata, Buenos Aires, and Sao Paulo.

Dates

Creation: 1522 - 1647

Creator

De Acuña y Cabrera, Antonio. (Person)

Access

The collection is open for research.

Biographical/Historical Note

Reaching the height of its power in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spanish Empire extended from the middle of the North American continent to the southernmost region of Argentina, excluding territory held by Portugal in South America. Several events of great significance had occurred prior, such as the union of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, who together propelled the empire to new heights and established the Holy Office of the Inquisition in the late 1400s.

As a decorated Spanish military captain during the peak of the Spanish Empire, don Antonio de Acuña y Cabrera was responsible for managing and maintaining several political relationships for the Spanish Crown in Latin America in the early 1600s. Throughout his military career, Acuña y Cabrera was bestowed with several honors for his exploits, most notably both the Order of St. Augustin and the Order of Santiago by the king himself.