Francisco de Villagra
Encyclopedia
Francisco de Villagra Velázquez (1511 – 22 July 1563) was a Spanish conquistador
, and three times governor of Chile
.
with Pedro de Valdivia
and participated in the conquest of Chile
. He was present at the foundation of Santiago
in 1541, he occupied various positions in the government of the city, and he was called on to defend it from the assault of Michimalonco
cacique in September of the same year.
Valdivia died in the Battle of Tucapel
, on 25 December 1553. In his testament, that was only to be opened upon his death, he first named Jerónimo de Alderete
governor of Chile, second choice was to be Francisco de Aguirre
and lastly Villagra. Alderete was in Spain negotiating recognition of Valdivia's position with the king, and Aguirre was involved in the conquest of Tucumán. The cities of the south then proclaimed Villagra as governor. In Santiago where the testament of Valdivia was not opened and Rodrigo de Quiroga
proclaimed himself governor. Villagra tried to stop the indigenous rebellion, led by Lautaro
, but when facing him in the Battle of Marihueñu
on the 26 February he suffered a terrible defeat, having half of his soldiers killed and the remainder unable to prevent the destruction of Concepción
. When he arrived in Santiago to recover the situation, he convinced Quiroga to leave his office.
When Aguirre received the news, he was in Tucumán, and Villagra had already been named governor, due to the death of Alderete and the absence of Aguirre. Apprised of the situation by his friends in La Serena, Aguirre immediately returned there, where he was welcomed as the Captain General, or Governor of Chile. He communicated this choice to Santiago, letting it be known that the troops under his command were prepared to maintain his position, which was his by right of Valdivia's will. The town council of Santiago, however, refused to acknowledge the declaration, disarming the contingent of troops under Aguirre's brother Hernando which had been sent to deliver it. The conflict was finally resolved when a petition was sent to the Audiencia in Lima, which determined that the council had to submit to the command for six months, after which the viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza would designate a new governor. If the term expired, Villagra would be the governor, in command of the army of the south. Aguirre wanted to ignore the verdict, but his forces were too small to match Villagra's if there was a confrontation, so he accepted it bitterly.
Meanwhile the War of Arauco continued its course, and Lautaro returned to defeat the Spaniards in Angol
and destroyed once again the newly restored Conception. Pedro de Villagra
turned back Lautaro's march on Santiago at the Battle of Peteroa
. The Governor then marched to the south, managed to reinforce the beleaguered cites there and then returned to surprise and defeat the Mapuches and kill Lautaro, in the Battle of Mataquito
.
arrived. This was his son Don García Hurtado de Mendoza. Among the first actions of the new governor, was to take both Aguirre and Villagra prisoners. Sent to Lima to be judged on his performance, the sentence was favorable to Villagra. This gained the confidence of many who saw in his arrest an act of abuse by the son of the viceroy.
to Chile. It appeared in a disastrous epidemic in Valparaiso
and Santiago
, but also affected with still greater severity the Mapuches that lost between twenty and twenty five percent of their population. When initiating his rule he reorganized the regulation of the work in the mines and annulled the encomiendas that Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza had given to his friends and companions, which began new protests against him. He organized a new expedition against the Mapuche, but his body tired of so many battles fell irremediably ill. He had to be transferred in a stretcher to the battle sites. He also suffered in addition the death of his son Pedro de Villagra in this war, which made his mental and physical condition worse. He later designated his cousin Pedro de Villagra
to continue the campaign, giving him also the title of temporary governor, thanks to a power given him by the viceroy.
He died at Concepción
two days later, on 22 July 1563, and according to his desire, was buried with the Franciscan
habit.
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
, and three times governor of Chile
Royal Governor of Chile
The Royal Governor of Chile ruled over the Spanish colonial administrative district known as the Kingdom of Chile. This district was also called the Captaincy General of Chile, and as a result the Royal Governor also held the title of a Captain General...
.
Early life
Born at [Santervás de Campos], he was the son of Alvaro de Sarría and Ana Velázquez de Villagra, who were not married. For this reason he took the name of his mother. Upon arrival in [Americas|America], he went to [Peru], where he planned with Captain [Alonso de Mesa] an attempt to free [Diego de Almagro], then a prisoner of the [Pizarro brothers]. Discovered in this plot, he was condemned to death, but [Hernándo Pizarro] spared his life.Conquest of Chile
He traveled to ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
with Pedro de Valdivia
Pedro de Valdivia
Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia or Valdiva was a Spanish conquistador and the first royal governor of Chile. After serving with the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders, he was sent to South America in 1534, where he served as lieutenant under Francisco Pizarro in Peru, acting as his second in command...
and participated in the conquest of Chile
Conquest of Chile
The Conquest of Chile is a period in Chilean historiography that starts with the arrival of Pedro de Valdivia to Chile in 1541 and ends with the death of Martín García Óñez de Loyola, in the Battle of Curalaba in 1598 or alternatively with the Destruction of the Seven Cities. This was the period...
. He was present at the foundation of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
in 1541, he occupied various positions in the government of the city, and he was called on to defend it from the assault of Michimalonco
Michimalonco
Michima Lonco was an indigenous chief said to be a great warrior, born in the Aconcagua Valley and educated in Cusco by the Inca Empire. He presented himself to the Spaniards, naked and covered by a black pigmentation...
cacique in September of the same year.
First government
When Valdivia decided to travel to Peru in search of reinforcements in 1548, he made Villagra Lieutenant Governor of Chile. Soon after assuming his post he discovered a conspiracy directed by Pero Sánchez de la Hoz, that already had tried to seize the government on previous occasions, but that Valdivia had pardoned because of his possible influence in court. Villagra was not so benevolent, and he was executed, without even giving him time to confess himself. This death caused problems for Valdivia, a judgment against him was made for various irregularities, but he overcame them, bringing in addition the designation of governor of Chile from the viceroy. In 1551 Villagra was sent to Peru to recruit the men necessary for further campaigns in the south against the Mapuches and returned to take part in them.Second government
Battle of Tucapel
The Battle of Tucapel is the name given to a battle fought between Spanish conquistador forces led by Pedro de Valdivia and Mapuche Indians under Lautaro that took place at Tucapel, Chile on December 25, 1553...
, on 25 December 1553. In his testament, that was only to be opened upon his death, he first named Jerónimo de Alderete
Jerónimo de Alderete
Jerónimo de Alderete y Mercado was a Spanish conquistador who was later named governor Chile, but died before he could assume his post.-Early life:...
governor of Chile, second choice was to be Francisco de Aguirre
Francisco de Aguirre (conquistador)
Francisco de Aguirre was a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.-Early life:...
and lastly Villagra. Alderete was in Spain negotiating recognition of Valdivia's position with the king, and Aguirre was involved in the conquest of Tucumán. The cities of the south then proclaimed Villagra as governor. In Santiago where the testament of Valdivia was not opened and Rodrigo de Quiroga
Rodrigo de Quiroga
Rodrigo de Quiroga López de Ulloa was a Spanish conquistador of Galician origin. He was twice the Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...
proclaimed himself governor. Villagra tried to stop the indigenous rebellion, led by Lautaro
Lautaro
Lautaro was a Mapuche military leader and protagonist of the War of Arauco in Chile. He defeated and exterminated the Spanish forces of Governor Pedro de Valdivia and was almost able to expel them from the area when he was killed in battle.-Early life:...
, but when facing him in the Battle of Marihueñu
Battle of Marihueñu
Battle of Marihueñu was one of the early decisive battles of the Arauco War between the Mapuche leader Lautaro and the Spanish general Francisco de Villagra on 23 February 1554.-History:...
on the 26 February he suffered a terrible defeat, having half of his soldiers killed and the remainder unable to prevent the destruction of Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
. When he arrived in Santiago to recover the situation, he convinced Quiroga to leave his office.
When Aguirre received the news, he was in Tucumán, and Villagra had already been named governor, due to the death of Alderete and the absence of Aguirre. Apprised of the situation by his friends in La Serena, Aguirre immediately returned there, where he was welcomed as the Captain General, or Governor of Chile. He communicated this choice to Santiago, letting it be known that the troops under his command were prepared to maintain his position, which was his by right of Valdivia's will. The town council of Santiago, however, refused to acknowledge the declaration, disarming the contingent of troops under Aguirre's brother Hernando which had been sent to deliver it. The conflict was finally resolved when a petition was sent to the Audiencia in Lima, which determined that the council had to submit to the command for six months, after which the viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza would designate a new governor. If the term expired, Villagra would be the governor, in command of the army of the south. Aguirre wanted to ignore the verdict, but his forces were too small to match Villagra's if there was a confrontation, so he accepted it bitterly.
Meanwhile the War of Arauco continued its course, and Lautaro returned to defeat the Spaniards in Angol
Angol
Angol is a commune and capital city of the Malleco Province in the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. It is located at the foot of the Nahuelbuta Range and next to the Vergara River, that permitted communications by small boats to the Bío-Bío River and Concepción. This strategic position explains...
and destroyed once again the newly restored Conception. Pedro de Villagra
Pedro de Villagra
Pedro de Villagra y Martínez was a Spanish soldier who participated in the conquest of Chile, being appointed its Royal Governor between 1563 and 1565....
turned back Lautaro's march on Santiago at the Battle of Peteroa
Battle of Peteroa
Battle of Peteroa was a battle in the Arauco War in 1556, in a place in a plain beside a river in the Mataquito River valley, called Peteroa....
. The Governor then marched to the south, managed to reinforce the beleaguered cites there and then returned to surprise and defeat the Mapuches and kill Lautaro, in the Battle of Mataquito
Battle of Mataquito
Battle of Mataquito was a battle in the Arauco War on April 30, 1557, a dawn surprise attack on Lautaro's fortified camp between a wooded mountain and the shore of the Mataquito River...
.
Exile in Lima
Soon after Villagra prevailed at Mataquito the new governor designated by the viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, 3rd Marquis of CañeteAndrés Hurtado de Mendoza, 3rd Marquis of Cañete
Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza y Cabrera, 3rd Marquis of Cañete was a Spanish military officer and, from June 29, 1556 to his death on March 30, 1561, the fifth Viceroy of Peru.-Origins and military career:...
arrived. This was his son Don García Hurtado de Mendoza. Among the first actions of the new governor, was to take both Aguirre and Villagra prisoners. Sent to Lima to be judged on his performance, the sentence was favorable to Villagra. This gained the confidence of many who saw in his arrest an act of abuse by the son of the viceroy.
Last government and death
Years later, he was named by the King as the successor to Hurtado de Mendoza, and he took office in 1561. His government began with a terrible event, since the boat in which he came brought the smallpoxSmallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
to Chile. It appeared in a disastrous epidemic in Valparaiso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
and Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, but also affected with still greater severity the Mapuches that lost between twenty and twenty five percent of their population. When initiating his rule he reorganized the regulation of the work in the mines and annulled the encomiendas that Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza had given to his friends and companions, which began new protests against him. He organized a new expedition against the Mapuche, but his body tired of so many battles fell irremediably ill. He had to be transferred in a stretcher to the battle sites. He also suffered in addition the death of his son Pedro de Villagra in this war, which made his mental and physical condition worse. He later designated his cousin Pedro de Villagra
Pedro de Villagra
Pedro de Villagra y Martínez was a Spanish soldier who participated in the conquest of Chile, being appointed its Royal Governor between 1563 and 1565....
to continue the campaign, giving him also the title of temporary governor, thanks to a power given him by the viceroy.
He died at Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
two days later, on 22 July 1563, and according to his desire, was buried with the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
habit.
See also
- Pedro de ValdiviaPedro de ValdiviaPedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia or Valdiva was a Spanish conquistador and the first royal governor of Chile. After serving with the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders, he was sent to South America in 1534, where he served as lieutenant under Francisco Pizarro in Peru, acting as his second in command...
- Jerónimo de AldereteJerónimo de AldereteJerónimo de Alderete y Mercado was a Spanish conquistador who was later named governor Chile, but died before he could assume his post.-Early life:...
- Francisco de AguirreFrancisco de Aguirre (conquistador)Francisco de Aguirre was a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.-Early life:...
- Arauco WarArauco WarThe Arauco War was a conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people in what is now the Araucanía and Biobío regions of modern Chile...