France, declared war on Britain on October 5, 1797, Grúa confiscated the property of Britons living in the colony, for his own benefit. To flatter King Charles IV and Godoy, the viceroy commissioned the Spanish architect and sculptor Manuel Tolsá (1757-1816) to construct a grand equestrian statue of the king. The first stone in the pedestal was laid July 18, 1796, and the statue was completed in 1803. This statue, now known as El Caballito, is still a landmark in Mexico City. The Ayuntamiento of Mexico City (the city government), brought suit against the viceroy for corruption, specifically for wasting vast sums of public money on projects of little consequence. The viceroy prevailed, and the Ayuntamiento was ordered to pay costs. War again being declared with France, Viceroy Grúa intended to raise new regiments from the provinces, expecting to make a fortune through the sale of positions. However his incompetence and dishonesty by now had been credibly reported to the Court. He was removed as viceroy in 1798, and Miguel José de Azanza was named in his place. Legacy The Villa de Branciforte, one of only three Spanish civil settlements in what is now the U.S state of California (the others are now the cities of Los Angeles and San Jose), was named for him in 1797. In 1905, the Branciforte area was annexed into the city of Santa Cruz, California. Branciforte County, (soon renamed Santa Cruz County), was one of the state's original counties at the time of its 1850 statehood. References García Purón, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, v. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrúa, 1984. Orozco L., Fernando, Fechas Históricas de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1988, . Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, . Affonso, Domingos de Araújo and Valdez, Rui Dique Travassos. Livro de Oiro da Nobreza (3 volumes), Volume 1, p. 491-8, Lisbon, 1938. Zarzosa y Godoy Viceroys of New Spain Politicians convicted of corruption 1750s births 1812 deaths Branciforte Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain Knights of Santiago Nobility from Palermo 1790s in Mexico 1790s in New Spain 18th-century Italian people 18th-century Mexican people Spanish politicians convicted of crimes Spanish captain generals Military personnel from Palermo