Pedro Arias Dávila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro Arias Dávila
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| 1st Governor of Castilla del Oro | |
| In office 1513 / July 1514 – 1526 |
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| Monarch | Joanna I / Charles I |
| Preceded by | Vasco Nuñez de Balboa |
| Succeeded by | Pedro de los Ríos y Gutiérrez de Aguayo |
| Royal Governor of Nicaragua | |
| In office 1528–1531 |
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| Monarch | Charles I |
| Preceded by | Diego Gutiérrez de los Ríos y Aguayo |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Ramírez de Quiñones |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1440 Segovia, Crown of Castile |
| Died | 6 March 1531 León Viejo, Spanish Empire |
| Spouse | María de Peñalosa y Bobadilla |
| Children | Diego Arias Dávila y Bobadilla Pedro Arias Dávila y Bobadilla Elvira de Bobadilla María Arias de Peñalosa Isabel Arias Dávila y Bobadilla |
| Profession | Military, explorer, conquistador, and governor |
| Signature | |
| Nicknames | Pedrarias, el Galán, el Justador |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Spanish Empire |
| Branch/service | Infantry |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars |
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Pedro Arias Dávila (born 1440 – died March 6, 1531) was an important Spanish soldier and leader. He was one of the first Europeans to explore and govern parts of the New World, which is what they called the Americas back then. He served as a governor in areas like Panama and Nicaragua and even founded Panama City. He lived to be about 90 or 91 years old.
Early Life and Military Career
Pedro Arias Dávila came from a powerful Spanish family. His grandfather was a key adviser to King Enrique IV. As a boy, Pedro worked as a page in the court of King Juan II of Castile.
He was known for being strong and good at sports. People called him "the jouster" because he was skilled in tournaments. They also called him "the gallant" because he liked fancy clothes.
Later, he fought in the Granada War against the Moors, from 1482 to 1492. He also fought in North Africa between 1508 and 1511. He became a colonel and was known as "the lion of Bugia" for his bravery.
Around 1485, he married Isabel de Bobadilla y Peñalosa. She was a close friend of Queen Isabella I of Spain. Isabel's father, Francisco de Bobadilla, later became the second governor of the Indies, taking over from Christopher Columbus.
In 1514, when he was almost 70 years old, King Ferdinand II of Aragon chose him to lead a very large Spanish expedition. This group had 19 ships and 1,500 men, and it was sent to America.
Adventures in the New World
Pedro Arias Dávila and his expedition arrived in Santa Marta, Colombia, in July 1514. They then traveled to Darién, where Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the governor.
Arias Dávila took over as governor. He had promised his daughter to Balboa in marriage. However, in 1519, Balboa was executed.
One of Arias Dávila's daughters was named María de Peñalosa. She married Rodrigo de Contreras in 1524. Another daughter, Isabel de Bobadilla, married Hernando de Soto in 1537. Hernando de Soto was a famous explorer who later explored Florida and the Mississippi River.
In 1519, Arias Dávila founded Panama City. He moved his main government office there in 1524, leaving Darién. He sent explorers like Gil González Dávila to explore areas to the north. In 1524, he sent another expedition led by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. Córdoba was later executed in 1526 by Arias Dávila's order.
Arias Dávila was also involved in the early plans to explore Peru. He made an agreement with Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro. However, he later decided to leave the project in 1526. He was replaced as Governor of Panama by Pedro de los Ríos y Gutiérrez de Aguayo.
Arias Dávila then moved to León, Nicaragua. He became the new governor there on July 1, 1527. He lived in León for the rest of his life, until he died on March 6, 1531.
Even though some people saw him as a harsh leader, his founding of Panama was very important. It helped open the way for the exploration of South America's west coast and the later conquest of Peru.
Images for kids
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Firma de Pedro Arias Dávila.jpg
Pedro Arias Dávila's signature
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Arias Dávila para niños
