Marina Ortíz de Gaete
Encyclopedia
Marina Ortíz de Gaete González (c. 1509 – April 1592) was the wife of Pedro de Valdivia
, and played an important role in the politics of the conquest and early history of the Kingdom of Chile.
, Spain
, the daughter of Francisco Ortíz de Gaete and of Leonor González Gutiérrez. In 1527, she married Pedro de Valdivia
, but he departed in 1535 to search for fortune in the new world. They would never meet again, though he always kept in touch and sent her money until the end of his days.
Once in Peru, Valdivia became attached to the widow Inés de Suárez, who was to accompany him to Chile as his mistress. Nonetheless, a discontented faction from Chile managed to have him tried in Lima in 1548, accused of tyranny, malfeasance of public funds and public immorality. One of the charges levelled against him was that he, being married, openly lived with Inés de Suárez "...in the manner of man and wife and they sleep in one bed and they eat in one dish...". In exchange for being freed, and for his confirmation as Royal Governor, he agreed to relinquish Suárez and to bring to Chile his wife. He was also ordered to marry Ines off, which he did upon his return to Chile in 1549, to one of his captains, Rodrigo de Quiroga
. As recognition for his services Valdivia was finally appointed as adelantado
and won the royal assent to his coveted title of Governor of Chile
, returning to the settlement with his position and prestige considerably strengthened.
of Juan de Mondragón. A large retinue of family travelled with her, including at least a brother and two nieces. As she arrived to Peru in 1554, she discovered that Valdivia had died the previous year after being captured by the Mapuche
. She was also detained in Lima by Viceroy
Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza
, who offered her a large sum in gold in exchange for her not continuing the journey to Chile, agreeing to return to Spain and renouncing all rights to her husband's inheritance. She refused and after further delays, she finally arrived to Chile
in 1555. She lived the rest of her long life between Santiago
and Concepcion
and died at the age of approximately 83; between March 30th and April 12th, 1592.
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 played an important role in the politics of the conquest and early history of the Kingdom of Chile.
Life
Marina (sometimes María) Ortíz de Gaete was born around 1509, in Zalamea de la SerenaZalamea de la Serena
Zalamea de la Serena is a municipality in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. It has a population of 4,431 and an area of 245.7 km².Zalamea is famous for a play called “El Alcalde de Zalamea,” or the “Mayor of Zalamea.”...
, 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...
, the daughter of Francisco Ortíz de Gaete and of Leonor González Gutiérrez. In 1527, she married 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...
, but he departed in 1535 to search for fortune in the new world. They would never meet again, though he always kept in touch and sent her money until the end of his days.
Once in Peru, Valdivia became attached to the widow Inés de Suárez, who was to accompany him to Chile as his mistress. Nonetheless, a discontented faction from Chile managed to have him tried in Lima in 1548, accused of tyranny, malfeasance of public funds and public immorality. One of the charges levelled against him was that he, being married, openly lived with Inés de Suárez "...in the manner of man and wife and they sleep in one bed and they eat in one dish...". In exchange for being freed, and for his confirmation as Royal Governor, he agreed to relinquish Suárez and to bring to Chile his wife. He was also ordered to marry Ines off, which he did upon his return to Chile in 1549, to one of his captains, 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:...
. As recognition for his services Valdivia was finally appointed as adelantado
Adelantado
Adelantado was a military title held by some Spanish conquistadores of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.Adelantados were granted directly by the Monarch the right to become governors and justices of a specific region, which they charged with conquering, in exchange for funding and organizing the...
and won the royal assent to his coveted title of 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...
, returning to the settlement with his position and prestige considerably strengthened.
In America
Marina was sent for, and left Spain in November, 1553, in the naoCarrack
A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
of Juan de Mondragón. A large retinue of family travelled with her, including at least a brother and two nieces. As she arrived to Peru in 1554, she discovered that Valdivia had died the previous year after being captured by the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
. She was also detained in Lima by Viceroy
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza
Andrés 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:...
, who offered her a large sum in gold in exchange for her not continuing the journey to Chile, agreeing to return to Spain and renouncing all rights to her husband's inheritance. She refused and after further delays, she finally arrived to Chile
Chile
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...
in 1555. She lived the rest of her long life between 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...
and Concepcion
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...
and died at the age of approximately 83; between March 30th and April 12th, 1592.
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...
- Inés de Suárez
- 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...
- Mapuche peopleMapucheThe Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...