Juan de Carvajal facts for kids
Juan de Carvajal was a Spanish conquistador and one of the first governors of the Venezuela Province. A conquistador was a Spanish explorer and soldier who helped Spain claim new lands in the Americas. A governor was like a leader or ruler of a specific area.
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Who Was Juan de Carvajal?
Juan de Carvajal was born in Spain in 1509. He became an important figure during the early days of Spanish exploration in South America. He arrived in what is now Venezuela in the 1540s. At this time, a powerful German banking family called the Welser family had been given control over this land by the Emperor Charles V.
Adventures in Venezuela
While Carvajal was in Venezuela, two explorers named Philipp von Hutten and Bartholomeus VI. Welser were on a long journey. They were trying to find a legendary place called El Dorado, which was believed to be a city of gold. While they were away, Carvajal saw a chance to gain more power.
Founding El Tocuyo
In 1545, Juan de Carvajal decided to start a new settlement. He founded a town called El Tocuyo. This town quickly became a very important place for the Spanish colonists in the area. It served as their main administrative capital, meaning it was where the leaders made decisions and managed the land.
The End of His Journey
In 1546, Von Hutten and Welser returned from their expedition. They had not found El Dorado. When they came back, a serious argument broke out between them and Carvajal. This conflict led to the deaths of Von Hutten and Welser. Because of this, the Spanish authorities decided to punish Carvajal. He was sentenced to death. The Spanish government also took away the Welser family's rights to control the land. This event marked the end of their rule, which was known as Klein-Venedig (meaning "Little Venice").
