Luis Lanchero facts for kids

Luis Lanchero, also known as Luis Lancheros, was a Spanish conquistador. A conquistador was a Spanish explorer and soldier who helped Spain conquer new lands in the Americas. Luis Lanchero was born in Castile, part of the Spanish Empire, and died in 1562 in Tunja, which was then part of the New Kingdom of Granada (modern-day Colombia).

He is famous for founding the town of Trinidad de los Muzos in Boyacá, Colombia. Muzo became the most important place for finding emeralds in Colombia. It took over twenty years of trying before the Spanish could finally take control of the Muzo lands. Lanchero first arrived in the Americas, often called the New World by Europeans, in 1533. He passed away in Tunja in 1562.

About Luis Lanchero

Early Life and Adventures

Luis Lanchero participated in the Sack of Rome in 1527

Luis Lanchero was born into a noble family in Castile, Spain. When he was young, he worked as a guard for the Spanish king, Carlos V. In this role, he took part in the Sack of Rome in 1527.

In 1533, Lanchero decided to seek adventure. He left Europe for a place that would later become Venezuela. He joined an expedition led by Jerónimo Ortal.

Exploring the Americas

Once in the Americas, Lanchero joined another expedition. This one was led by Nikolaus Federmann and headed towards the Colombian Andes mountains. In 1538, they reached the new capital of the New Kingdom of Granada, which was Bogotá.

Lanchero became an encomendero in Susa. An encomendero was a Spanish settler who was given control over a group of native people and their land. He was supposed to protect them and teach them about Christianity, but often this system led to forced labor.

In 1539, Hernán Pérez de Quesada took over governing Bogotá. He sent Lanchero to explore the lands of the Muzo people in western Boyacá in early 1540. The Muzo lands were difficult to travel through because of the tough terrain. Lanchero's group even had to kill some of their horses for food.

After two tries, Lanchero could not defeat the Muzo people, who numbered over 10,000. He then marched south through Panche territory, which is now part of Cundinamarca, and returned to Bogotá.

Founding Muzo

Muzo, founded by Lanchero, is world-famous for its production of emeralds

Fifteen years after rich emerald deposits were found by Diego Martínez, Lanchero returned to the Muzo lands. This was in early 1559. He traveled through Maripí.

On February 20, 1559, Luis Lanchero founded the town of Villa de la Santísima Trinidad de los Muzos. Today, this town is simply known as Muzo. Conquistador Pedro de Ursúa was with him on this expedition. Muzo had been tried to be founded before, but it was not successful.

During the fights against the Muzo, Lanchero was wounded by an arrow in his chest. In 1560, Lanchero gave control of Muzo to the other encomenderos. This led to many struggles over the valuable emerald mines. On October 17, 1560, Lanchero also handed over control of Curipí to the encomenderos.

Later Years

Later, when Miguel Diez de Armendariz took control of the area, Luis Lanchero lost all his belongings. He passed away in Tunja in 1562. He left behind his wife and one daughter.

Places Explored by Luis Lanchero

Muzo was founded on February 20, 1559 by Luis Lanchero, accompanied by Pedro de Ursúa

Name bold is founded	Department	Date	Year	Notes	Map
Coper	Boyacá		1540
Pauna	Boyacá		1540-41
Quipama	Boyacá	24 April	1541
Maripí	Boyacá		1559
Muzo	Boyacá	20 February	1559

Encomiendas

See also

In Spanish: Luis Lancheros para niños

• List of conquistadors in Colombia
• Spanish conquest of the Muisca
• Muzo people, Hernán Pérez de Quesada
• Nikolaus Federmann