Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22

The thirty-second viceroy of Mexico, who
ruled over the colony for four years from
1896; was Don Jose Sarmiento Valladares,
Count of Montezuma, lineal descendant of
the emperor in the seventh generation
through his son Pedro. Senior Jose NJ. de
Argada director of the National Library
of Spain and an authority upon all his
torical subjects-from whom l have these
facts-tells me that 1t is frequently asserted
that the Niceroy Sarmiento was not a direct
descendant. but the husband of one of the
Montezuma family, but that is not proven.
The Valladares family is wealthy and has
occupied a prominent position in Spanish
history for three centuries. One of the de-
scendants committed suicide at New Or
leans because of disappointment in love
some years ago.
Marcilla de Gerul, Duke Of Montezuma,
who lives at Madrid, and is man of abil
ity and Importance, Is descended also from
the son OF Montezuma, and the Mexican
government paid him pension until a few
years ago. when he voluntarily relinquish-
ed 1t.
Isabella Loved by Cortez.
1t has frequently been asserted, and there
seems to be some foundation to the story,
that the Princess Tecuichpoct or Isabella
MonteZuma. had a daughter by Cortez
named Leonor, and Luis C. Sierra Que
vedo, who claims TO be one of her descen-
dants, not long ago wrote a fervid defense
of his fair ancestrass which was published
in the newspapers of Spain and Mexico. He
says that Isabella was born In July, 1903,
and died in July. 1850. On the day of her
death she made will in which she APP
pointed Licenciado Don Juan Altamirano,
Don Andres de Tapia and Don AlonZo de
Bazan her executors. authorizing them to
dispose of her estate among her six chill
dren, five legitimate by two of her Span
ish husbands, and one natural daughter
called Leonor Cortez, who received leg
acy equal to that of the rest. This WILL it
Is claimed. still exists and the writer de-
clares that 1t should be considered final
proof of the relations between Cortez and
Montezuma's daughter.
"That there were love passages between
them. | do not deny" Mr. Sierra says but
with her it was a love pure, grand, sublime,
as is proved by the priceless document I
possess, from which could be written an
historical novel of the most thrilling inter-
est And now that, in order to clear up a
historical point, / have had to lift the Veil
and discover a fault of the ancestress of
my children l must needs go further. and
not only say but prove, that said fault
should not be laid to her charge. but to the
passions of that victorious savage, Herman
Cortez As her guardian, he took charge
of her in his own house. He became des-
perateIy enamored OF the princess. He
violated his ward, Dona Isabella, who, in
January, 1926 gave birth to the daughter
Ixeonor mentioned in the will aforesaid
This daughter lived IN the house of Licen-
ciaoo Don Juan Altamirano, one of the ex-
eeutors of her mothers estate, her origin
and relationships being kept strictly Sc
cret.''
A daughter of Leonor, known as the
Princess Acaltan, married Cristobal Val
derama a grandee of SPAIN from whom is
descended the present Duke Soteles de
Montezuma of Madrid.