Diego de Escobar y Osorio facts for kids

Diego de Escobar y Osorio was an important leader who served as the Governor of Paraguay. He was governor from February 2, 1647, until he passed away on February 22, 1649.

Who Was Diego de Escobar y Osorio?

Diego de Escobar y Osorio was born in a place called the Captaincy General of Chile. This area was part of a larger Spanish territory known as the Viceroyalty of Peru. He grew up to become a high-ranking military officer, known as a Maestre de Campo. He also worked as a judge, or oidor, in a special court called the Real Audiencia of Charcas.

Becoming Governor of Paraguay

Diego de Escobar y Osorio was chosen to be the Governor of Paraguay in 1644. However, it took him some time to travel to the province and start his new job. He finally arrived and began his governorship in February 1647.

On his way to Paraguay, he met a man named Bernardino de Cárdenas in Corrientes. Cárdenas was a bishop who had been removed from his position in Asunción. He had been in a big disagreement with the previous governor, Gregorio de Hinestrosa. Cárdenas told Osorio his side of the story and got Osorio's support for a while. They both entered Asunción together, and the people there welcomed them warmly. Soon after, Osorio officially took over as governor from Hinestrosa.

A Time of Disagreement

Even though Osorio had helped Cárdenas return, he decided to stay neutral in the ongoing dispute. This disagreement was between the group who supported Cárdenas and the group who supported Hinestrosa. It's interesting to note that the Franciscan religious group supported Cárdenas. On the other hand, the Jesuits had supported the former governor, Hinestrosa.

Osorio's Fair Leadership

A historian named Adalberto López said that Osorio was a very smart and capable leader. He was able to stay neutral during these difficult times. He also managed to stop arguments from turning into violent fights. This showed that he was a very good administrator.

His Short Time as Governor

Sadly, Diego de Escobar y Osorio's time as governor was short. He passed away only two years into his term. After his death, the people of Paraguay used an old law from 1537 to choose their next governor. They elected Bishop Cárdenas to take Osorio's place. This decision led to more disagreements between Paraguay and other parts of the Spanish Empire, especially with the Jesuit missions.

See also

In Spanish: Diego de Escobar y Osorio para niños