Tesorero de Nueva España
The information from the "pruebas de limpieza" were gathered in 1584-1585 as part of the requirement for don Jorge’s admission into the prestigious military and knightly Orden de Santiago.1. Alonso1 de Estrada1 was born in Ciudad Real, Spain circa 1480. He married Mariana Gutierrez Flores de la_Cavalleria circa 1508 in Ciudad Real, Spain. Mariana was born circa 1490 in Ciudad Real, Spain. She was the daughter of Juan Gut¡errez de la Cavalleria and Mayor Flores de Gevara. Died in circa 1552. Mariana de la Caballeria was a Marrano descendant of the Lavi family who was one of the most aristrocatic families of Aragon. Some of his members included Judah aben lavi de la Caballeria and Abraham ben Judah aben Lavi. The family wealth has been compared to the Rothschild's wealth. The family derived the surname of "de la Caballeria" from the fact that one of their ancestors at one time enjoyed the protection of the Order of Knights Templar. Members of de la Caballeria family served as alfaquims, physicians, interpreters with the moors, and diplomats. From 1257 to 1276 Judah, who was of the most influential Jews in the service of James I of Aragon, was a bailiff (a very broad term which included administration of the property of the king and oversee of judicial matters on behalf of the king) of Saragossa. The Caballeria family was among the highest ranking families in the courts of Aragon and Castilla. Although the Caballeria family was an old Jewish family, some members became Christians. Mariana's grandfather Mene de la Caballeria remained Jewish. His bones were burned after he died. On the other hand, Pedro de la Caballeria who was the secretary of the royal treasury under Alphonso V of Aragon forged an affidavit of pure blood. Thus, all of his descendants became "pure old Christians". Mariana came to New Spain with her five daughters and husband in 1523. When Estrada died, Mariana inherited some of the encomiendas of her husband which included Tlanepantla, 10 miles from Mexico City. The Estrada family became one of the most politically powerful and wealthy families in New Spain. Their power was obtained through their connections with the Spanish Crown, Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza, and politically correct marriages of the Estrada's five daughters. Alonso de Estrada came to New Spain in 1523 as the royal treasurer. Estrada, who was raised in the court of Ferdinand and was the regidor of Ciudad Real, was the illegitimate son of Ferdinand. Like his father, Estrada was of Jewish extraction. After Ferdinand's death, Alonso had fought for his relative Charles V in the Comunero uprising. In 1523, Estrada was sent to New Spain after trouble with some noble men that resulted in deaths and disgraces. In Mexico City, Estrada alternate as royal treasurer and acting governor during the troublesome period of October 1524 and June 1525. He was co- governor with Gonzalo de Salazar in 1527 and then governor until 1529 when he was relieved by the first Audiencia. Estrada children married into the nobility of New Spain. Beatriz married Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, the explorer and discovered of New Mexico; Luisa married Jorgue de Alvarado, Pedro de Alvarado's brother. Francisca married Alonso de Avalos Saavedra; Maria married Nu?o Guzman de Saavedra; Ana married Juan Alonso de Sosa caballero from Cordova, who replaced Estrada as royal treasurer. Estrada also brought his cousins, Juan de la Torre from Ciudad Real (Boyd-Bowman p. 250, No. 460) and Luis. Juan and Luis were the sons of Antonio de la Torre. Their name of their mother is not given by Dr. Boyd-bowman. Juan served as regidor in 1525 and 1528, and alcalde ordinario in 1526 and 1527, and 1532. Juan married de Cabrera. Luis married Luisa de Acu?a in Santo Domingo. They had no childre. When Luis died, his widow married Lope de Cherinos.