Jerónimo de Alderete facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| 2nd Adelantado and Royal Governor of New Extremadura of Chile | |
| In office March, 1555 – April, 1556 |
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| Monarch | Philip II of Spain |
| Preceded by | Pedro de Valdivia |
| Succeeded by | Last holder |
| 3rd Adelantado of Terra Australis | |
| In office August 2, 1540 – December 25, 1553 |
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| Monarch | Charles I of Spain |
| Preceded by | Pedro de Valdivia |
| Succeeded by | Last holder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1518 Olmedo, Spain |
| Died | April 7, 1556 (aged 37–38) Taboga, Panama |
Jerónimo de Alderete y Mercado (born around 1518 – died April 7, 1556) was a Spanish explorer and military leader. He was chosen to be the governor of Chile, but sadly, he passed away before he could take on the role.
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Early Life and Journeys
Jerónimo de Alderete was born in Olmedo, Castile, Spain, in 1518. His parents were Francisco de Mercado and Isabel de Alderete.
In 1535, he traveled to Peru. There, he joined an expedition led by Diego de Rojas. Their goal was to explore the Gran Chaco region. The journey was tough, and they faced many challenges trying to reach the Pilcomayo River.
Alderete later settled in Tarija. In 1540, he joined Francisco de Aguirre's group. They then teamed up with Pedro de Valdivia to explore and settle Chile.
Adventures in Chile
Jerónimo de Alderete was a key member of Pedro de Valdivia's team. They set out to establish a settlement in the Mapocho valley of Chile in 1540. In 1541, he became a council member in the first city government of Santiago, Chile.
In 1544, Alderete joined an expedition led by Juan Bautista Pastene. They explored the lands to the south, heading towards the Straits of Magellan. They sailed on a ship called the San Pedro.
In 1550, during a campaign to establish Concepción, Alderete led a brave cavalry charge. His charge broke through the main part of the Mapuche army at the Battle of Penco. Two years later, in 1552, Valdivia ordered Alderete to go inland. His mission was to build a fort near Lake Villarrica. This fort became the site of the present-day city of Villarrica.
Travels to Europe
In late 1552, Pedro de Valdivia sent Alderete to Europe. His task was to confirm Valdivia's position as governor with Emperor Charles V. However, when Alderete arrived in Spain, he found out that the Emperor had given control of Chile and other territories to his son, Philip II. Philip II was living in England at the time.
So, Alderete traveled to London to meet King Philip II. He successfully got the King to confirm Valdivia's lifetime governorship. As he was returning to Spain to begin his journey back to Chile, he received sad news. Pedro de Valdivia had died.
Alderete returned to England to meet the King again. On October 17, 1554, King Philip II appointed Alderete to take Valdivia's place as governor. He also named him an Adelantado (a special title for a frontier leader) and a Knight of Santiago.
Meanwhile, back in Chile, Valdivia's will had also named Alderete as his successor. However, the Viceroy of Peru, Melchor Bravo de Saravia, did not allow this. Instead, he appointed a temporary governor.
As Alderete was sailing back to America to become governor, he fell ill. He caught yellow fever in Panamá and passed away there on April 7, 1556.
Additional Information
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