Juan de Salazar de Epinosa
Encyclopedia
Juan de Salazar y Espinosa (1508–1560) was a Spanish explorer, founder of the Paraguay
an city of Asuncion
. Born in the city of Espinosa de los Monteros
in Burgos
, Spain
, not much is known about his early life.
On August 1535 he set sail from the Spanish port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda
(Cádiz
) as a member of the expeditionary Pedro de Mendoza
, who set sail towards the region of the Rio de la Plata
, arriving to the estuary of the Rio de la Plata in January of 1536. After assisting Pedro de Mendoza in the first foundation of Buenos Aires
, Juan de Salazar y Espinoza was then sent to look for Juan de Ayolas
, who had been sent earlier by Pedro de Mendoza to explore the northern rivers of the Paraná
and Paraguay River
. He managed to find another member of Ayolas' party, Domingo Martínez de Irala
, holed up in the fort of Candelaria
, which was founded by Ayolas earlier in February of 1537.
While continuing his trip in the search of Ayolas, he founded a fort on the eastern banks of the Paraguay River
which he denominated "Our Lady of Asuncion", due to coincidence of that day, August 15, being the Christian
celebration of the Asuncion of the Virgen Mary
. He then traveled as far as San Pedro
to look for Ayolas, only to find that he had been killed by the Chaco
Indians.
Juan de Salazar y Espinosa is credited for having founded the first permanent European settlement in this region of the Rio de la Plata: Asuncion, which would become the capital of Paraguay. In 1544, he was expelled to Spain for having taken sides along the disgraced former governor of the Rio de la Plata, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
. He returned to the region three years later, this time around as a treasurer to the vice-royalty, undertaking a distinguished public career in the region known as Paraguay. He died in the 1560 in the city he had founded, Asuncion.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an city of Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
. Born in the city of Espinosa de los Monteros
Espinosa de los Monteros
Espinosa de los Monteros is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain, with a population of c. 2,100 inhabitants....
in Burgos
Burgos (province)
The province of Burgos is a province of northern Spain, in the northeastern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is bordered by the provinces of Palencia, Cantabria, Vizcaya, Álava, La Rioja, Soria, Segovia, and Valladolid. Its capital is the city of Burgos...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, not much is known about his early life.
On August 1535 he set sail from the Spanish port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Sanlúcar de Barrameda is a city in the northwest of Cádiz province, part of the autonomous community of Andalucía in southern Spain. Sanlúcar is located on the left bank at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River opposite the Doñana National Park, 52 km from the provincial capital Cádiz and...
(Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
) as a member of the expeditionary Pedro de Mendoza
Pedro de Mendoza
Pedro de Mendoza y Luján was a Spanish conquistador, soldier and explorer, and the first adelantado of the Río de la Plata.- Setting sail :...
, who set sail towards the region of the Rio de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, arriving to the estuary of the Rio de la Plata in January of 1536. After assisting Pedro de Mendoza in the first foundation of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Juan de Salazar y Espinoza was then sent to look for Juan de Ayolas
Juan de Ayolas
Juan de Ayolas was a conquistador who explored the watershed of the Rio de la Plata for the Spanish crown. He accompanied Pedro de Mendoza on his 1534 expedition to colonize the region between the Rio de la Plata and the Straits of Magellan and briefly succeeded him as the second governor of the...
, who had been sent earlier by Pedro de Mendoza to explore the northern rivers of the Paraná
Paranã River
The Paranã River is located in Goiás state, Brazil. It divides two regions - the Northeast and north-central Goiás. It is formed by tributaries that descend the Serra Geral, the mountains that divide eastern Goiás and Bahia. One of the most important tributaries is the Crixás, which has its...
and Paraguay River
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
. He managed to find another member of Ayolas' party, Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala was a Spanish Basque conquistador.He headed for the Americas in 1535 enrolled in the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza and participated in the founding of Buenos Aires...
, holed up in the fort of Candelaria
Candelaria
-People:*John Candelaria , American baseball pitcher*Candelaria Pérez , sergeant in the Chilean Army, hero of the Battle of Yungay*Nash Candelaria , U.S...
, which was founded by Ayolas earlier in February of 1537.
While continuing his trip in the search of Ayolas, he founded a fort on the eastern banks of the Paraguay River
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
which he denominated "Our Lady of Asuncion", due to coincidence of that day, August 15, being the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
celebration of the Asuncion of the Virgen Mary
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Many significant works of art depict the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. They include:* Assumption of the Virgin by Francesco Botticini* Assumption of the Virgin by Titian* Assumption of the Virgin by Antonio da Correggio...
. He then traveled as far as San Pedro
San Pedro de Lloc
San Pedro de Lloc is a town in the La Libertad Region of northern Peru. It is located at approximately . It is the capital of the coastal Pacasmayo Province....
to look for Ayolas, only to find that he had been killed by the Chaco
Chaco (tribe)
The Chaco tribe is a native American tribe in Paraguay who built complex stone edifices that aligned with solar and lunar trajectories. The Chaco had no written language and so all knowledge required for building their structures had to be passed by word of mouth over many generations...
Indians.
Juan de Salazar y Espinosa is credited for having founded the first permanent European settlement in this region of the Rio de la Plata: Asuncion, which would become the capital of Paraguay. In 1544, he was expelled to Spain for having taken sides along the disgraced former governor of the Rio de la Plata, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer of the New World, one of four survivors of the Narváez expedition...
. He returned to the region three years later, this time around as a treasurer to the vice-royalty, undertaking a distinguished public career in the region known as Paraguay. He died in the 1560 in the city he had founded, Asuncion.