Pedro de Valdivia He was a Spanish soldier and conqueror who led the conquest of Chile from 1540. Born in the current autonomous community of Extremadura in 1497, from a very young age he joined the army of Emperor Carlos I.
After taking part in several military campaigns in Europe, Valdivia moved to America. There he fought alongside Francisco Pizarro in the civil war that broke out between the Spanish conquerors of that territory. His achievements earned him the appointment of Pizarro as Lieutenant Governor of Chile, after which he began to prepare his expedition to that country..
The conquest of Chile began in 1540, when Valdivia set out from Cuzco in command of just over 100 men. During his journey he founded the current Chilean capital, Santiago, in addition to other cities such as La Serena, Concepción, Valdivia or La Imperial. In 1541, he was appointed Governor and Captain General of the Kingdom of Chile.
Valdivia defeated the indigenous people in several battles, in addition to having to face some conspiracies against them. The resistance of the Mapuches in the south, the so-called War of Arauco, occupied the last years of the conqueror's life. In one of the battles he was captured by the men of the toqui Lautaro.
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Pedro de Valdivia came to the world on April 17, 1497 in the region of La Serena, in the Extremadura region (Spain). His exact place of birth is still the subject of discussion: most historians affirm that it was in Villanueva de la Serena, but others indicate that it could have been in Castuera, Campanario or Zalamea de la Serena.
It is said that it belonged to a family of noblemen with a family tradition: the Casa de Valdivia. However, the identity of his parents is also not known with certainty. The most defended hypothesis is that his father was Pedro de Oncas and his mother Isabel Gutiérrez de Valdivia.
Valdivia joined the army in 1520 to participate in the War of the Communities of Castile. Later he enlisted in the army of Emperor Charles V and participated in the campaigns of Flanders and in the Italian Wars. In this last conflict he took part in the Battle of Pavia and in the assault on Rome.
In 1525 he married Doña Marina Ortiz de Gaete, a noblewoman born in Salamanca. However, ten years later he abandoned her when he left for the New World..
Pedro de Valdivia traveled to the new continent on an expedition commanded by Jerónimo de Ortal. His first destination was the island of Cubagua, where he arrived in 1535 to try to find El Dorado..
Later he participated in the conquest of the province of Nueva Andalucía (in present-day Colombia) together with an old comrade in arms in Castilla, Jerónimo de Alderete..
Some disputes with Ortal caused that several components of the expedition left it. Among them were Valdivia and Alderete, who went to the Province of Venezuela, then under the government of the Welser of Augsburg. There they were arrested as deserters and sent to Santo Domingo to be tried..
Valdivia was released and stayed for a time in Coro. There he became friends with the advance and Spanish moneylender Francisco Martínez Vegaso.
After a little-known period in his life, Valdivia moved to Peru in 1538, where he enlisted in Francisco Pizarro's army to participate in the civil war that he was maintaining with Diego de Almagro..
His contribution in the victory of his side was recognized with some silver mines in Potosí, as well as with lands in Charcas. Despite being married in Spain, Valdivia established relationships with Inés Suárez, the widow of a military man.
In 1539, Pedro de Valdivia obtained Pizarro's permission to undertake the conquest of Chile. In addition, he received the title of Lieutenant Governor of Chile.
After preparations, the conqueror left Cuzco in January 1540 in command of about 110 men. On the Inca Trail they headed south, until they reached the Copiapó valley in October, where they defeated the Diaguita Indians..
Valdivia baptized the area as Nueva Extremadura and took possession of it in the name of the King of Spain.
Historians highlight the military work of Valdivia in his victories against the indigenous people of Mapocho, the valley in which he founded Santiago. In addition, he was a very skilled politician who won the loyalty of his men and defeated various conspiracies against him..
Valdivia participated in 1547 in the new civil war that had started in Peru. On this occasion the contenders were Gonzalo Pizarro and the royal army commanded by Pedro de la Gasca, president of the Royal Audience of Lima. The conqueror fought alongside the latter and his contribution was recognized with the confirmation of his title of Governor of Chile.
Upon returning to Chile, Valdivia found that several of his colleagues had denounced him. He was arrested and sent to Lima to be tried. The loss of the original documents and the silence of Valdivia in his letters on this matter mean that there is little information about the process.
In just three days, Valdivia prepared his defense and his witnesses. His political ability allowed him to be declared innocent and with his title of Governor, although the condition of ending his relationship with Inés de Suárez was imposed on him..
At that time the Spanish had to face the different rebellions of the Mapuches. Valdivia, in addition to maintaining a constant fight against the Araucanians, dedicated himself to rebuilding the populations destroyed by the indigenous people. The conqueror undertook new expeditions and founded cities such as Concepción and Valdivia.
Thus, on December 25, 1553, in Tucapel, the Extremaduran conqueror died after being taken prisoner during one of the battles against the Mapuches led by Lautaro..
The first expedition that Pedro de Valdivia undertook in America was destined for the island of Cubagua, located northeast of Venezuela. Under the command of Jerónimo de Ortal, the explorers sought to find the mythical El Dorado.
Later, the expedition headed to Tierra Firme, where they discovered and conquered Nueva Andalucía.
Valdivia began the conquest of Chile from Cuzco. His next destination was Arequipa, in Peru, and then he continued along the coast until he reached the Atacama Valley, already in Chile..
His men crossed the Atacama desert and reached the Copiapó valley. The expedition continued south to the Mapocho valley. Valdivia founded Santiago de Nueva Extremadura there on February 12, 1541.
A few years later, Pedro de Valdivia undertook a new exploration towards lands further south. On his way he rebuilt some towns that had been destroyed by the natives and founded new cities such as La Imperial or Valdivia..
In his advance towards the southern lands he had to face the resistance of the Araucanians, who had taken up arms against the conquerors in 1553. That same year, the indigenous people defeated Valdivia's troops in Tucapel. The conqueror died in that confrontation.
Before the expedition of conquest led by Valdivia, the Spanish Diego de Almagro had tried to take control of the Chilean lands.
Almagro had left for that area in 1536. His route crossed the Andes mountain range and the conquerors found a very hard road. The conditions were aggravated by the lack of food and the cold they encountered.
Despite this, Almagro and his people managed to reach Copiapó and the Aconcagua river valley. There they were surprised by the resistance of the Mapuches and the Spanish preferred to return to Cuzco.
Valdivia thought that the lands of Chile were rich for cultivation and livestock. In addition, he considered that his conquest would bring him fame and honors.
After obtaining permission from Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror began to prepare his expedition. Valdivia convinced Francisco Martínez to finance the project in exchange for 50% of the profits they obtained.
The arrival of Pedro Sancho de la Hoz, who had the permission of the monarch to conquer and rule the entire southern territory, complicated the Valdivia project. However, Pizarro's intervention solved the possible legal problem by creating a partnership between the two conquerors.
The expedition set out in January 1540 from Cuzco. Valdivia, with about 110 men, skirted the coast on their way south. Then they traveled the Inca Trail.
During that journey, Sancho de la Hoz tried to assassinate Valdivia to keep all the right of conquest. However, he was discovered when he was in the store of Inés Suárez, who had joined the expedition, and sentenced to death. Finally, Valdivia spared his life in exchange for him renouncing all his real rights.
On December 13, 1540, almost a year after their departure, the conquerors reached the Mapocho river valley. The area was very fertile and allowed them to renew their supplies and rest. Valdivia took formal possession of the territory.
The good conditions of the valley led Valdivia to found the first city in the area, on February 12, 1541. The conqueror baptized it as Santiago de la Nueva Extremadura. The chosen location was next to the Mapocho river, protected by the Huelén hill, nowadays Santa Lucía.
However, Valdivia did not intend to stay there, as he considered the settlement as the starting point for the rest of his conquest..
On June 11, 1541, Valdivia received the title of Governor and Captain General from the Cabildo de Santiago. The tranquility that existed in Santiago was broken on September 11, 1541. That day, the natives led by Michimalonco attacked the city..
At that time, Valdivia was not in the town. At the head of its defense was Inés Suárez, who managed to repel the attack despite the damage suffered in the settlement.
The indigenous attacks did not stop and, finally, they managed to destroy Santiago. Valdivia was forced to request reinforcements from Peru. These arrived in late 1543.
With the aim of improving communications with Peru, in 1544 Valdivia founded the city of La Serena in the Coquimbo valley..
However, the conquest was practically stopped and Valdivia decided to go to Peru in 1547. While he was there he participated in the war against Gonzalo Pizarro, which earned him the recognition of Viceroy Pedro de la Gasca.
The viceroy, despite the accusations that were presented against the conqueror, decided to confirm his position as governor of Chile. Thus, he was granted the government of the strip between parallels 24 and 41, which left the Strait of Magellan out. Finally, the king also granted him that territory.
Back in Santiago, Valdivia organized a new expedition in January 1550. With 200 soldiers plus the support of the men of the chief Michimalonco, with whom he had signed peace, he went to confront the Mapuches.
On February 22, the conquerors faced the Mapuches at the Battle of Andalién, near Concepción. The victory went to the men of Valdivia, who ordered the construction of a fort in the place.
Ainavillo, a Mapuche toqui, attacked the fort on March 12, but was repulsed. Valdivia stayed in the place all the year 1550 in order to prepare a new campaign to the south. During the following years he faced the indigenous people on several occasions and founded cities such as La Imperial, Villarrica or Valdivia..
In December 1552, after spending time in Santiago, Valdivia marched again towards Concepción. From that city he organized several expeditions to the southern lands and ordered the construction of the Arauco fort in 1553.
In December of that year, another of the forts built, Tucapel, was attacked by the indigenous people led by Lautaro, a former servant of Valdivia himself. This was taken prisoner and died on December 25.
Valdivia founded Santiago de la Nueva Extremadura (current Santiago) in February 1541 on the banks of the Mapocho River. This city was used as a base to conquer the rest of Chile.
The city organized itself by distributing portals among its men. The attack by the picunches carried out on September 11, 1541 stopped the development of the town, which was seriously damaged.
Some time later, the Aconcagua Indians attacked the city again. This time they were successful and the town was destroyed. Shortly after, the Spanish rebuilt it.
La Serena was founded in 1544 and its name was a tribute to the native region of the conqueror. The city is located in the Coquimbo Valley, a location that was chosen to facilitate communications with Peru..
Other reasons for choosing the location were the fertility of the land and its proximity to the Andacollo gold mines..
Although the area had been discovered by Juan Bautista Pastene from his ship on September 27, 1544, it was not until Pedro de Valdivia undertook the conquest of Chile that the city was founded..
The town had its origin in the camp set up by Valdivia after the battle of Andalién that pitted the Araucanians against the Spanish, in 1550.
On March 3 of that year, the Spanish drew up the plan of the city and distributed the lots. They immediately began to build and on October 5 the official foundation of the one baptized as Concepción de Nueva Extremadura was decreed. Two years later, it was recognized as a city by a Royal Certificate.
As in the previous case, the area was explored from the sea by Juan Bautista Pastene in 1544. During this exploration, the captain baptized the place as Valdivia in honor of his superior.
On February 9, 1552, Pedro de Valdivia arrived at the place and founded the city on Ainil. Its official name was Santa María la Blanca de Valdivia.
The city became in a few years one of the most important in the area, only surpassed by Santiago itself..
Valdivia started a new campaign from Santiago in February 1551. Heading south, he reached the mouth of the then called Cautín River, today the Imperial River..
In February 1551 Valdivia resumed the campaign from Concepción with 170 soldiers, in an expedition that would last only 3 months.
The Spanish traveled the river to the east looking for a place to build a fort. After traveling about 20 kilometers they reached the confluence of the Cautín and the Damas rivers. There, on a hill, the fort La Imperial was founded.
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