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Pedro de Mendoza

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  Pedro de Mendoza

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  Pedro de Mendoza

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  Pedro de Mendoza

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  Pedro de Mendoza

Pedro de Mendoza

Births, Marriages, Deaths

Pedro de Mendoza y Luján
Monument to Pedro de Mendoza, Parque Lezama, neighborhood of San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Born	c. 1487 Guadix
Died	June 23, 1537 Atlantic Ocean
Occupation	Spanish Conquistador
Religious beliefs	Catholic

Pedro de Mendoza y Luján (c. 1487 – June 23, 1537), was a Spanish conquistador, and the first adelantado of the Río de la Plata.

Mendoza was from a noble family in the Andalusian town of Guadix in the province of Granada, high in the favor of Emperor Charles V. In 1524, he was dubbed a Knight of Alcántara and later received the Order of Santiago.

In 1529, he offered to explore South America at his own expense and establish colonies. Thanks to the efforts of his mother María de Mendoza, in 1534, his offer was accepted: he was made adelantado governor, captain general, and chief justice over New Andalusia. This grant allowed him authority over as much land as he could conquer, within 200 leagues of the southern limit of New Toledo. Although this was measured along the Pacific coast, it was understood his efforts would be directed towards the Rio de la Plata on the Atlantic. The Emperor gave Mendoza 2000 ducats and advanced 2000 more on condition that within two years Mendoza should transport 1000 colonists, build roads into the interior, and construct three forts. He was to have half the treasure of the chiefs killed and nine-tenths of the ransom. The office of Governor was also, in theory, made hereditary.

That year, he set sail with a considerable fleet, but a terrible tempest scattered it off the coast of Brazil. Here his lieutenant, Juan de Osario, was assassinated, according to some authorities by the orders of Mendoza himself because of suspected disloyalty. Mendoza sailed up the Río de la Plata in 1535 and founded Buenos Aires on February 2, 1536. Pestilence broke out, and the natives, the Querandi, became unfriendly. His brother Diego, led a force against the hostile tribes and was killed with three-fourths of his men at the Battle of the Luján River. A coalition of the natives formed, and the city was captured and burned. Another brother, Gonzalo, arrived with reinforcements and founded the city of Asunción in Paraguay in 1536. Mendoza, disappointed and broken in health, embarked for Spain in 1537, but died a maniac during the voyage.

He was succeeded as governor by Juan de Ayolas, but as de Ayolas was far inland exploring the Paraguay, administration of Buenos Aires fell to Francisco Ruíz Galán.

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References

• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.