Juan Henríquez de Villalobos facts for kids

Juan Henríquez de Villalobos (born in 1630, died in Madrid in 1689) was a Spanish soldier and leader. After fighting in several wars in Europe, he was chosen by Mariana of Austria to be the governor of Chile. He served as governor from October 1670 to April 1682. During his time, some people in Chile thought he was a governor who favored his own family and friends and made unfair decisions. He faced many complaints and lawsuits from important judges and citizens in the colony. He was one of the governors who became much richer after leaving his position, reportedly with a lot of money.

Juan Henríquez de Villalobos: Governor of Chile

Juan Henríquez de Villalobos became the governor of Chile in 1670. His time as governor lasted for about twelve years. During this period, he faced many challenges and made important decisions.

Dealing with Challenges in Chile

One of the main challenges for Governor Henríquez was the War of Arauco. This was a long conflict between the Spanish and the Mapuche people. In January 1671, Governor Henríquez held a special meeting called the Parliament of Malloco. This meeting aimed to end the fighting that had started with the Mapuche Insurrection of 1655.

However, peace did not last long. In 1672, Governor Henríquez faced a new Mapuche uprising. This revolt was led by a former Mapuche leader named Ayllicuriche. Governor Henríquez acted quickly to stop the rebellion before it could grow too large.

Achieving Peace and Stability

After putting down the revolt, Governor Henríquez worked to bring peace back to the region. In March 1674, he was able to hold another important meeting. This was the Parliament of Concepcion. It was a festive event held to celebrate the end of the fighting. This parliament helped to bring a period of calm to the area.