Francisco Hernández Ortiz-Pizarro facts for kids

Francisco Hernández Ortiz-Pizarro (born 1555, died 1613) was an important figure in the early history of Chile. He is best known for founding Fort Calbuco. He was born in Villacastín, Spain. After surviving a major conflict known as the Destruction of the Seven Cities, he led a group of loyal Huilliche people to the area near the Chacao Channel. This is where Fort Calbuco was later built.

Biography

Early Life

Francisco was born in Villacastín, a town close to Segovia in Spain. His family was well-off, earning money from cleaning and preparing wool.

Marriage

Around 1601, Francisco married María Cortés Monroy. She was 18 years old at the time. Her parents were Captain Pedro Cortés and Elena de Tovar.

Adventures in Chile

Francisco traveled to South America and arrived in Chile. In Santiago, Chile, he quickly joined the efforts to fight in local conflicts. He was noted for his bravery, especially when he helped capture Fort Hualqui. In 1578, he spent a very rainy winter in Paicaví. His brother, Andrés Ortiz, died around this time. Another brother had died while crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1580, a leader named Martín Ruiz de Gamboa made him a Captain. Francisco helped bring peace to the Chillán area and helped establish the city of San Bartolomé de Chillán. He then served for two years as the mayor of Villarrica. Later, he was known as the "Corregidor" (a type of local governor) of Osorno.

In Osorno, he faced a rebellion by the Huilliche people around 1603. They wanted to destroy the city and remove the Spanish. With the help of friendly native groups, Francisco led the people who survived to safety. They traveled south and settled in the area of what is now Calbuco. There, they built a temporary fort. Later, a second military settlement was founded in Carelmapu. Francisco managed these lands as the Governor of Chiloé until 1604.

Land and Awards

The governor Alonso García Ramón gave Francisco a special award called an "encomienda" of native people in Concepción. He also received a large piece of land in Conchalí –Canela La Baja– in the Choapa valley. Francisco never got to see this land himself.

Death

We know that Francisco Hernández Ortiz-Pizarro had died by 1613. This was confirmed in a legal case filed by his wife, Doña Maria Cortes Monroy, who was asking for the land grant of Canela Baja.

See also

In Spanish: Francisco Hernández Ortiz Pizarro para niños