Alonso de Alvarado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alonso de Alvarado
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Alonso de Alvarado
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| Born | 1500 Secadura de Trasmiera, Crown of Castille
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| Died | 1556 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Conquistador |
Alonso de Alvarado Montaya González de Cevallos y Miranda (1500–1556) was a Spanish conquistador. He was also a knight of the Order of Santiago.
Alonso was born in Secadura de Trasmiera, Spain. He first worked in Mexico with Hernán Cortés. Later, he joined the famous explorer Francisco Pizarro.
Contents
Alonso de Alvarado's Adventures
Journey to Peru
Alonso went to Peru with his uncle, Pedro de Alvarado, in 1534. They were looking for gold. In Peru, he fought in many important battles.
He helped defend Lima in 1536 against the armies of Manco Inca Yupanqui. He also fought against Diego de Almagro in 1537. Alonso was part of the Battle of Las Salinas in 1538. Later, he fought in the battles of Chupas and Jaquijahuana.
A Loyal Leader
During the civil wars in Peru (around 1537 to 1555), Alvarado was very loyal. He always supported the Spanish crown. He sided with those he believed truly represented the king. This was not always easy or safe.
In 1537, he led Pizarro's troops. This was when Diego de Almagro claimed the Inca city of Cuzco. Alvarado was defeated and captured by Almagro at the Battle of Abancay. He managed to escape with great difficulty. He then rejoined Pizarro, who he saw as the rightful governor of Peru. Alvarado took part in many conflicts after that. He was always a key military leader. People saw him as a strong supporter of the Spanish cause.
Alvarado visited Spain in 1544 and got married.
Pacifying Chachapoyas
Alonso de Alvarado's main success was bringing peace to Chachapoyas. This area is in northeastern Peru. He did this in 1535 and 1536. This was the first step from Peru towards the Amazonian basin.
The Search for El Dorado
Alonso de Alvarado was a pioneer in exploring the Amazon Basin. In 1535, he left Trujillo, Peru and crossed the Andes mountains. He reached the land of the Chachapoyas people. A few years later, a city was founded there. Today, it is the capital of the Amazonas region.
Founding Chachapoyas
The writer Pedro Cieza of León wrote about the founding of Chachapoyas. He said that on September 5, 1538, Captain Alonso de Alvarado arrived. He had sixty Spanish soldiers with him. They founded the city of Chachapoyas.
Captain Luis Valera was also there. He was the father of a Jesuit priest named Blas Valera. Blas Valera's writings helped the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega describe the Inca Empire.
The Legend of El Dorado
In Chachapoyas, Alvarado heard stories of amazing treasures. These treasures were said to be in a legendary city deep in the forest. This was the mythical "El Dorado." From Chachapoyas, he planned new trips along the Marañón River. He also founded the city of Moyobamba in 1540.
The legend of "El Dorado" described a city with streets and temples covered in gold. Its buildings and squares were said to hold huge pieces of solid gold. This golden legend helped start the colonization of some remote parts of South America.
Peru's Civil Wars
Alvarado was also involved in the civil wars in Peru. These wars were between Diego de Almagro and Francisco Pizarro. Almagro captured Alvarado in 1537, but he escaped. Later, Alvarado supported Pizarro and the king. He defeated Almagro's followers at the Battle of Las Salinas in 1538.
Founding Huamanga
In 1539, Francisco Pizarro asked Alvarado to find a good place for a new city. It needed to be halfway between Lima and Cusco. So, Alvarado helped found the city of Huamanga.
Later Battles and Honors
In 1541, Diego de Almagro II, known as "El Mozo," killed Francisco Pizarro. The next year, Governor Cristóbal Vaca de Castro teamed up with Alonso de Alvarado. They defeated "El Mozo" in the battle of Chupas.
King Carlos I of Spain honored Alvarado for his loyalty. He made him a member of the Order of Santiago. He also named him Marshal of Peru. This happened when Alvarado returned to Spain and got married.
Alvarado came back to Peru in 1546. In April 1548, he again showed his loyalty to the Crown. He fought against Gonzalo Pizarro, Francisco Pizarro's rebellious younger brother. Under Pedro de la Gasca, Alvarado helped win the battle of Jaquijahuana.
However, this victory did not stop all the unhappy Spanish settlers. They did not like the increasing control from Spain. In 1553, Alvarado was a captain-general and chief justice in La Plata and Potosí. He stopped a rebellion led by Sebastian de Castilla. In 1554, Alvarado faced rebel forces led by Francisco Hernández Girón. He was defeated in the Battle of Chuquinga. Alonso de Alvarado died in Lima in 1556.
Sources
- Taken from es.wikipedia.org Alonso de Alvarado
See also
In Spanish: Alonso de Alvarado para niños
