Diego de Peñalosa

Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa Briceño y Berdugo (1621–1687) was a Lima-born soldier who served as governor of Spanish New Mexico in 1661–1664, following all his appointments to replace Bernardo López de Mendizábal in 1660.

Peñalosa's administration was notable for its positive treatment of the Pueblo Indians and their religious practices. This earned him the enmity of the Roman Catholic friars, who were determined to Christianize native populations and exploit free Indian labor. He was later declared a blasphemer and heretic by a Catholic tribunal. Forced into exile, he became an active opponent of Spanish interests and offered his services to England and France, Spain's rivals in the colonization of the New World. On March 6, 1662, he led the Quivira Expedition. This expedition was later turned into a legend with a variety of fantastic objects.