Alonso de Mendoza facts for kids

Alonso de Mendoza was a Spanish captain and conquistador. He was born in Garrovillas de Alconétar, Spain, around 1471–1476. He died in 1549 in Tipuani, which was then part of the Spanish Empire. Alonso de Mendoza is famous for founding the city of Nuestra Señora de La Paz. He was chosen by Pedro de la Gasca, known as the "Peacemaker." The city was founded to celebrate peace in the Spanish colonies in Peru. This happened after a big conflict involving the Pizarro brothers.

Early Life and Adventures

Alonso de Mendoza was born in Garrovillas de Alconétar, Spain. He left his home country when he was a young man. He was excited by stories about the riches of the New World. He also heard about the adventures of explorers like Pizarro and Almagro. These explorers had conquered the powerful Inca Empire.

Before going to the Americas, Alonso de Mendoza fought as a soldier. He served in wars in both Germany and Italy. Later, he moved to the New World. People believe he first settled in Cuba. This was when Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar was the governor there. His name appears in a document from 1520 in Guanuco.

After Cuba, he worked for Hernán Cortés in Mexico. He was in a place called San Sebastián del Puerto. However, he was later told to leave this area. Some people accused him of causing trouble.

Adventures in Peru

Alonso de Mendoza then traveled to Peru. He was very smart and good at dealing with people. His friendly personality helped him join the group of Pizarro. At that time, Pizarro was fighting against his former partner, Diego de Almagro.

Mendoza fought in important battles. He was part of the battle of Las Salinas against Almagro. He also fought in the battle of Chupas. In this battle, "Diego, the Younger" (Almagro's son) was killed. After these fights, Mendoza was made governor of Chuquisaca.

During a time of big trouble, Gonzalo Pizarro rebelled against King Charles V of Spain. Alonso de Mendoza seemed to be involved with both sides during this conflict. By the end of the rebellion, he was working for Francisco de Carvajal. Carvajal was a very tough leader. Mendoza became a Captain and went on many missions. He fought against the King's supporter, Diego de Centeno.

Mendoza's life changed again when he decided to join Pedro de la Gasca. De la Gasca was sent by the King to bring peace to Peru. Mendoza was given a group of horsemen to lead in the battle of Sacsahuaman. Pedro de la Gasca had finished his mission in Peru. He had solved the conflict and was ready to leave. But he wanted to leave something important behind.

On April 7, 1548, de la Gasca told Captain Mendoza about a special task. He was chosen to found a new city. This city would celebrate the victory of the King's forces and the return of peace. Around this time, Mendoza had also taken control of rich gold mines in the Tipuani region.

Founding of La Paz

Three priests, Francisco Morales, Francisco Laroca, and Francisco Alcócer, helped Mendoza choose the spot for the new city. Many important people knew about a valley called Chukiyawu. It was near the Illimani mountain and had a small Native American village. They admired the valley's beauty. It was a huge, rough, and uneven basin with a river at the bottom. The natives called this river Chukiyapu or Choqueyapu, meaning "Golden River."

Mendoza got the papers ready for the city's founding on October 20, 1548. But the important officials could not arrive on time. So, Captain Mendoza held a first, temporary founding ceremony. This took place at the Native American village of Laja or Laxa, in the Andean plains. Three days later, the official ceremony happened at the actual chosen spot. Morales, Laroca, and Alcócer helped design the city's layout.

The new city, Nuestra Señora de La Paz, became a key stop. It was on the route connecting Lima to Potosí. Potosí was a city built around the world's richest silver mine. La Paz was also on the way to the goldfields of Tipuani and the warm Yungas region. The location was chosen well. It offered many benefits and was a good place for travelers to rest and feel comfortable.

Death

In 1549, Alonso de Mendoza was sent to fight a Native American uprising in Potosí. It is not clear if he went back to Chuquisaca before he died in Tipuani.

Popular Culture

• A statue honoring Alonso de Mendoza is in La Paz. It stands where he founded the city. This spot was once called Churupampa, meaning "Field of Shells." Today, it is known as Plaza Alonso de Mendoza.
• In La Garrovilla (Badajoz), the main town square is named Alonso de Mendoza.
• The town of Garrovillas (Cáceres) has a street named "Capitán Mendoza" after him.
• In 2003, a Metro station (Line 12) in Madrid, Spain, was named after Captain Alonso de Mendoza.

See also

In Spanish: Alonso de Mendoza para niños