predecessor successor death_date birth_place death_place profession birth_date order term_start spouse signature article_title term_end name
juan manso de contreras diego de peñalosa september 16 , 1664 chietla , in puebla -lrb- present mexico -rrb- mexico city custos governor of new mexico -rrb- , military , political , and administrator -lrb- 1620 18th spanish governor of new mexico 1659 teresa de aguilera y roche bernado lopez de mendizábal.gif bernardo lópez de mendizábal
 1660 bernardo lópez de mendizábal
bernardo lópez de mendizábal

bernardo lópez de mendizábal -lrb- 1620 -- september 16 , 1664 -rrb- was a spanish politician , military and religious , native of modern mexico , who served as governor of new mexico between 1659 -- 1660 and as alcalde mayor , or royal administrator , in guayacocotla -lrb- on the sierra madre oriental , northeast of mexico city -rrb- .
among lopez 's dictates as governor of new mexico were that no amerindian would be required to work for the franciscan priests without pay and that the amerindians had the right to practice their religion .
he also permitted the pueblos amerindians to perform their religious dances , thus endorsing religious practices that had been prohibited for 30 years .
these facts caused disagreements with the franciscans missionaries of new mexico in their dealings with the native americans .
he was condemned to prison for the inquisition due to 33 counts of malfeasance and the practice of judaism in 1660 , without having ended his administration -lrb- so he was replaced this year in his government -rrb- , being arrested in 1663 .
