Pedro de la Gasca
Encyclopedia
Pedro de la Gasca was a Spanish bishop, diplomat and the second (acting) viceroy of Peru, from April 10, 1547 to January 27, 1550.
Pedro de la Gasca studied at the University of Salamanca
and the University of Alcalá
. He became a priest and a lawyer, and was known for his intellect. In 1522 he entered the army. In 1542 he was negotiator for Emperor Charles V
in discussions with the pope and King Henry VIII
, a position requiring great diplomatic skill.
Gonzalo Pizarro
, brother of Francisco Pizarro
, the conqueror of Peru
, rose in revolt, killed viceroy Blasco Núñez Vela
in battle in 1546, and attempted to have himself crowned king. The Emperor, recovering from a ruinous war, was unable to send an army against Pizarro. Instead, he commissioned Gasca to restore the peace, naming him president of the Audiencia and providing him with unlimited authority to punish and pardon the rebels.
Gasca sailed from Spain in May 1546, without troops or money. Two Dominican
priests and a few servants made up his party.
He arrived in Panama
, representing himself as a peacemaker charged only with reestablishing justice and granting a general amnesty. Gasca suggested that if he were unable to fulfill his offices, a royal fleet of 40 ships and 15,000 men was preparing to sail from Seville
in June to restore the peace in Peru by more forceful methods. Pizarro's fleet was stationed in Panama, and Gasca's diplomatic skills soon converted Pizarro's officers to Gazca's cause.
Gonzalo Pizaro, however, refused to submit, and fled secretly to Cuzco, where he had loyal troops. Gasca, escorted by nearly the whole fleet of Pizarro, landed at Tumbes in 1547. He issued a proclamation announcing his mission as peacekeeper and inviting all good citizens to join him in restoring tranquility. In another proclamation he granted amnesty to all deserters and promised rewards to those who would take up arms in defense of the Crown. He also repealed the New Laws
, the cause around which the rebellion had been organized.
Gasca soon assembled a respectable army. He took command himself and marched to Cuzco in December 1547. Pizarro arrived on the plain of Xaguijagana with a strong force, but Gasca, relying more on his diplomatic than on his military skills, entered negotiations with Pizarro's officers, winning them over by promises and threats. The two armies met on April 9, 1548 in the valley of Cuzco near Sacsayhuaman
or Jaquijahuana
. Most of Pizarro's officers and men went over to Gasca, with the exception of Francisco de Carbajal, dubbed the Demon of the Andes. The royalist forces were masters of the field, without having struck a blow.
Gasca had Pizarro and some of his important followers, including de Carbajal executed. He dispersed the adventurers, rewarded the royalists, and pardoned the majority of the rebels. He reorganized the administration of justice and the collection of taxes, and he issued several regulations opposed to the oppression of the Indigenous. Gasca was tactful and judicious, but unyielding in his devotion to duty.
In 1549 he surrendered his powers to the Audiencia. On January 27, 1550 he left Peru to return to Spain. On his arrival there he was made bishop of Palencia
by Charles V. In 1561 Philip II
promoted him to the see of Sigüenza.
Pedro de la Gasca studied at the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
and the University of Alcalá
University of Alcalá
The University of Alcalá is a public university located in Alcalá de Henares, a city 35 km northeast of Madrid in Spain. Founded in 1499, it was moved in 1836 to Madrid. In 1977, the University was reopened in its same historical buildings...
. He became a priest and a lawyer, and was known for his intellect. In 1522 he entered the army. In 1542 he was negotiator for Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
in discussions with the pope and King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, a position requiring great diplomatic skill.
Gonzalo Pizarro
Gonzalo Pizarro
Gonzalo Pizarro y Alonso was a Spanish conquistador and younger paternal half-brother of Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of the Inca Empire...
, brother of Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro González, Marquess was a Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire, and founder of Lima, the modern-day capital of the Republic of Peru.-Early life:...
, the conqueror of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, rose in revolt, killed viceroy Blasco Núñez Vela
Blasco Núñez Vela
Blasco Núñez Vela y Villalba was the first Spanish viceroy of Peru, from May 15, 1544 to January 18, 1546. He was charged by King Charles I with the enforcement of the controversial New Laws, which dealt with the failure of the encomienda system to protect the indigenous people of America from the...
in battle in 1546, and attempted to have himself crowned king. The Emperor, recovering from a ruinous war, was unable to send an army against Pizarro. Instead, he commissioned Gasca to restore the peace, naming him president of the Audiencia and providing him with unlimited authority to punish and pardon the rebels.
Gasca sailed from Spain in May 1546, without troops or money. Two Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priests and a few servants made up his party.
He arrived in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, representing himself as a peacemaker charged only with reestablishing justice and granting a general amnesty. Gasca suggested that if he were unable to fulfill his offices, a royal fleet of 40 ships and 15,000 men was preparing to sail from Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
in June to restore the peace in Peru by more forceful methods. Pizarro's fleet was stationed in Panama, and Gasca's diplomatic skills soon converted Pizarro's officers to Gazca's cause.
Gonzalo Pizaro, however, refused to submit, and fled secretly to Cuzco, where he had loyal troops. Gasca, escorted by nearly the whole fleet of Pizarro, landed at Tumbes in 1547. He issued a proclamation announcing his mission as peacekeeper and inviting all good citizens to join him in restoring tranquility. In another proclamation he granted amnesty to all deserters and promised rewards to those who would take up arms in defense of the Crown. He also repealed the New Laws
New Laws
The New Laws, in Spanish Leyes Nuevas, issued November 20, 1542 by King Charles V of Spain regarding the Spanish colonization of the Americas, are also known as the "New Laws of the Indies for the Good Treatment and Preservation of the Indians", and were created to prevent the exploitation of the...
, the cause around which the rebellion had been organized.
Gasca soon assembled a respectable army. He took command himself and marched to Cuzco in December 1547. Pizarro arrived on the plain of Xaguijagana with a strong force, but Gasca, relying more on his diplomatic than on his military skills, entered negotiations with Pizarro's officers, winning them over by promises and threats. The two armies met on April 9, 1548 in the valley of Cuzco near Sacsayhuaman
Sacsayhuamán
-External links:* BBC Article...
or Jaquijahuana
Battle of Jaquijahuana
After the successful Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, the assassination of Francisco Pizarro in 1541, and the execution of his main antagonist, Diego de Almagro and his son, El Mozo , most of the competent commanders of the recently founded New Castile Governorate had been lost in the ensuing...
. Most of Pizarro's officers and men went over to Gasca, with the exception of Francisco de Carbajal, dubbed the Demon of the Andes. The royalist forces were masters of the field, without having struck a blow.
Gasca had Pizarro and some of his important followers, including de Carbajal executed. He dispersed the adventurers, rewarded the royalists, and pardoned the majority of the rebels. He reorganized the administration of justice and the collection of taxes, and he issued several regulations opposed to the oppression of the Indigenous. Gasca was tactful and judicious, but unyielding in his devotion to duty.
In 1549 he surrendered his powers to the Audiencia. On January 27, 1550 he left Peru to return to Spain. On his arrival there he was made bishop of Palencia
Palencia
Palencia is a city south of Tierra de Campos, in north-northwest Spain, the capital of the province of Palencia in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon...
by Charles V. In 1561 Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
promoted him to the see of Sigüenza.
Works
- «Relación de las provincias que hay en la conquista de Chuquimaio por Pedro de La Gasca. Perú». 1549.
External links
- The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed., © 2006 A brief biography