Pedro de Ursúa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro de Ursúa
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Pedro de Ursúa
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| Born | 1526 Baztan, Navarra
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| Died | January 1, 1561 |
| Cause of death | Murder |
| Nationality | Navarre |
| Occupation | Conquistador |
| Years active | 1545–1561 |
| Employer | Spanish Crown |
| Known for | Co-founder of Pamplona Failed conquest of the Muzo Quest for El Dorado |
Pedro de Ursúa (born in 1526, died January 1, 1561) was a Spanish conquistador. A conquistador was a Spanish explorer and soldier who helped Spain claim new lands in the Americas. Pedro de Ursúa came from a region called Baztan in Navarre, which is now part of Spain. He is most famous for his last journey with Lope de Aguirre to find the legendary city of gold, El Dorado. This journey ended tragically for Ursúa.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Pedro de Ursúa was born in a town called Arizkun, located in Baztan. His family was important and supported the Spanish rule in Navarre.
Ursúa traveled to Panama, a country in Central America. There, he helped to stop a revolt by a group called the Cimarron. These were formerly enslaved people who had escaped and formed their own communities. Ursúa managed to capture their leader, Bayano, and sent him to King Philip II of Spain back in Spain.
Founding a City
Pedro de Ursúa also played a key role in founding new settlements. Along with another officer named Ortún Velázquez de Velasco, he helped establish the city of Pamplona. This city is located in what was then called the New Kingdom of Granada, which is now Colombia. The city was founded on November 1, 1549.
The Search for El Dorado
Later, Ursúa led an expedition into the vast Amazon region. His goal was to find the mythical city of gold, El Dorado. Many explorers dreamed of finding this place, which was believed to be full of riches.
During this difficult journey, Ursúa was accompanied by a man named Lope de Aguirre. Aguirre was a very ambitious and often rebellious person. A disagreement arose between Ursúa and Aguirre about how the expedition should be run. This led to a plot where Aguirre, along with another officer, Fernando de Guzman, turned against Ursúa. They started a rebellion and sadly, Pedro de Ursúa was killed. After Ursúa's death, Aguirre took control of the expedition.
Pedro de Ursúa in Books and Movies
The dramatic story of Pedro de Ursúa and Lope de Aguirre has inspired many works of fiction.
- Two famous films show a fictional version of their journey:
* Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes by director Werner Herzog. * El Dorado by director Carlos Saura.
- The novel Ursúa by William Ospina is also a very important book about Pedro de Ursúa. It shares many details about his life. The book also describes what was happening in the "New World" (the Americas) in the mid-1500s.
Images for kids
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Former tower house of the Ursúa family in Arizkun, Navarre. This was Pedro de Ursúa's family home.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro de Ursúa para niños
