Juan de Garay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan de Garay
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| Governor of the Río de la Plata and Paraguay (1528-1583) Lieutenant Governor of Asunción (1577-1578) Lieutenant Governor of Santa Fe (1574-1576). |
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| Monarch | Philip II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1528 Biscay, Spain |
| Died | 1583 Santa Fe, Viceroyalty of Peru |
| Spouses | Isabel de Becerra Juana de Espindola y Palomino |
| Children | Juan de Garay y Becerra |
| Occupation | Politician |
Juan de Garay (born 1528 – died 1583) was an important Spanish explorer and leader. He was known as a conquistador, which means a Spanish conqueror or adventurer.
Juan de Garay's exact birthplace is not fully known. Some say he was born in Junta de Villalba de Losa in Castile, Spain. Others believe he was born in Orduña, a part of the Basque Country. Even though there is no birth certificate, Juan de Garay always considered himself to be from Biscay, a region in the Basque Country.
He worked for the Crown of Castille in the Viceroyalty of Peru, which was a large Spanish territory in South America. He became the governor of Asunción (which is now the capital of Paraguay). He also founded many cities in what is now Argentina, especially near the Paraná River. This included the second founding of Buenos Aires in 1580.
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Garay's Early Life and Expeditions
Juan de Garay began his adventures in 1543. He sailed to Peru with his uncle, Pedro de Zárate. They were part of the first big trip led by Viceroy Blasco Núñez Vela.
In 1561, Garay helped to establish the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Later, in 1568, he moved to Asunción. There, he became an important political figure.
Founding Santa Fe
In April 1573, the governor of Asunción sent Juan de Garay on a special trip. He led a group of eighty men to explore the Paraná River. During this expedition, he founded the city of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz.
In 1576, Juan de Garay was chosen to be the governor of Asunción. As governor, his main goal was to bring peace and fairness. He wanted to help the native people by setting up villages for them. He also created local governments to help organize things.
Re-founding Buenos Aires
By 1580, Juan de Garay had become a very high-ranking leader. He was the Captain General of the Viceroyalty. He then re-founded a city on the banks of the Río de la Plata.
This city had first been started by Pedro de Mendoza in 1536. It was called Nuestra Señora del Buen Ayre. But the native people later destroyed it.
Garay founded Buenos Aires for the second time on June 11, 1580. He landed on the riverbank where Plaza de Mayo is today. He named the city Ciudad de la Trinidad and its port Santa Maria de Buenos Ayres. Buenos Aires would later grow to be the most important city and port in the Paraná River area.
Search for the City of the Caesars
After re-founding Buenos Aires, Juan de Garay went on another expedition. From 1581 to 1582, he searched for the legendary City of the Caesars. This was a mythical city believed to be full of riches.
Garay's Final Journey
Juan de Garay died on March 20, 1583. He was traveling from Buenos Aires back to Santa Fe. His group included about 40 men, a priest, and a few women. They entered an unknown lagoon and decided to camp for the night. This was near the Carcarañá River, close to the old Sancti Spíritus Fort.
Sadly, the group was attacked by Querandí natives. Juan de Garay, the priest, one woman, and twelve soldiers were killed in the ambush.
Juan de Garay had a daughter named Jerónima de Contreras. She married Hernando Arias de Saavedra. He later became the governor of Rio de la Plata.
In the oldest part of Garay, a town in Biscay, there is a palace-baserri called Garatikua. Juan de Garay built this building. In the 1800s, it was known as "Garay-Goitia."
The Garay Family History
The Garay family had a special symbol, a coat of arms. It showed a gold lion on a red background with a silver flag. This symbol suggests the family came from the noble Garay Family of Tudela, in Navarra. This family was known as early as the 1200s.
Because Juan de Garay was from Biscay, he had the title of knight. This was a special right given to all people from Biscay by their local laws. The family was quite well-off and educated. For example, his uncle was a judge, and his cousin went to the University of Salamanca.
Juan de Garay was also related to Juan Ortiz de Zárate. This relative was the third "Adelantado" (a special title for a leader of an expedition) of the Rio de la Plata.
See also
In Spanish: Juan de Garay para niños
