Vincente de Valverde
Encyclopedia
Vincente de Valverde was a Spanish bishop
. He was born in Oropesa
(Toledo), Spain about 1490 and most sources claim he died in Isla Puna, Ecuador
, in 1543. He was a Dominican friar, and went to Peru
about 1530, although it is not certain whether he accompanied Francisco Pizarro
from Spain
or arrived at San Miguel de Piura
in 1531 with re-enforcements from Panama
.
, Spain towards the close of the fifteenth century, as the son of Francisco de Valverde and Ana Alvarez de Vallegada, and was related to many noble families, in particular, to that of Francisco Pizarro
, the conquistador
of Peru, and that of Hernan Cortes
, the conqueror of Mexico. Valverde became a professed member of the Dominicans at the convent of San Esteban at Salamanca
in April, 1524.
In 1529 he accompanied Pizarro as a missionary, on his intended voyage of conquest to Peru. Before the battle of Caxamarca of 16 November 1532, Valverde endeavoured to obtain the Great Inca Atahuallpa's peaceful submission; later he instructed and baptized the unfortunate Inca monarch.
Following the death of Atahualpa
, Pizarro saw no further obstacles to his conquest and decided to march into Cuzco
on November 15, 1533, bringing Friar Vincente de Valverde along with him and his followers. By March 23, 1534, a new church was erected in Cuzco and became Friar Valverde's cathedral. Pizarro also gave him a large native commandery, which Valverde mistreated by simply using them as slaves.
Later in 1534, friar Valverde headed back to Spain to assist Pizarro's brother, Hernando Pizarro
, in his negotiations at court. While in Spain, friar Valverde was also named by the empress-regent the bishop of Cuzco and Peru, since the original appointee, Fernando de Luque, had died in Panama
in 1531.
By 1536 Valverde was yet again named protector of the Natives and inquisitor, and, being confirmed by the pope, he came back to Peru in the beginning of 1538, just before the execution of Diego de Almagro
, which he had vainly tried to prevent.
When Emperor Charles V
learned of Pizarro's victories, he named Valverde first Bishop of Cuzco, the royal city of the Peruvian kings; pope Paul III
ratified his choice in a consistory
held in January, 1537. The new bishop found his spiritual duties arduous, for he had already been charged with the office of Protector of the Natives. This forced him to cross the rude soldiery constantly, as the adverturers who made up the Spanish armies had no thought of justice or mercy to the Indians. He strove to settle the feud between Almagro and Pizarro and after the assassination of the latter was forced to flee from Peru. Making his way to Panama
, he halted for a brief stay at the Island of Puná, near Guayaquil
in Ecuador, where he was put to death by the Indians on 31 October 1541. According to some sources,
the oppressed Indians revolted, captured Valverde, and poured molten gold down his throat as a punishment to greed.
, another Spanish priest, did years later by defending the native's rights in works he published and in visits to Spain
to inform King Philip II
of the abuses committed against the local natives by the Conquistadors.)
Valverde was later appointed by Pizarro on the commission to apportion lands and natives to the royal officers, and the licentiate, Antonio de Game, whom Pizarro had appointed supreme judge of Cuzco. The latter charged Valverde in a letter to the emperor, dated March 10, 1539, with arbitrary acts and insisted that instead of protecting the natives, he only mistreated them and sought to confiscate their lands, and always gave the greater part to himself and his assistant. Despite the charges, on March 11, 1540, Friar Valverde officiated at the consecration of the new cathedral of Lima. He then headed back to Spain, where he presented to the emperor, by order of Pizarro, a memorial about the conquest under the title of "Relacion de la Conquista de los Reynos de Peru," in which he claimed that the natives could scarcely be considered as human beings, as they had no souls.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was born in Oropesa
Oropesa
An Oropesa is a streamlined towed body used in the process of minesweeping. The role of the Oropesa is to keep the towed sweep at a determined depth and position from the sweeping ship....
(Toledo), Spain about 1490 and most sources claim he died in Isla Puna, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, in 1543. He was a Dominican friar, and went to 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....
about 1530, although it is not certain whether he accompanied 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:...
from 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...
or arrived at San Miguel de Piura
Piura
Piura is a city in northwestern Peru. It is the capital of the Piura Region and the Piura Province. The population is 377,496.It was here that Spanish Conqueror Francisco Pizarro founded the third Spanish city in South America and first in Peru, San Miguel de Piura, in July 1532...
in 1531 with re-enforcements from 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...
.
Biography
He was born at SegoviaSegovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
, Spain towards the close of the fifteenth century, as the son of Francisco de Valverde and Ana Alvarez de Vallegada, and was related to many noble families, in particular, to that 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 conquistador
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...
of Peru, and that of Hernan Cortes
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
, the conqueror of Mexico. Valverde became a professed member of the Dominicans at the convent of San Esteban at Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
in April, 1524.
In 1529 he accompanied Pizarro as a missionary, on his intended voyage of conquest to Peru. Before the battle of Caxamarca of 16 November 1532, Valverde endeavoured to obtain the Great Inca Atahuallpa's peaceful submission; later he instructed and baptized the unfortunate Inca monarch.
Following the death of Atahualpa
Atahualpa
Atahualpa, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa, or Atawallpa , was the last Sapa Inca or sovereign emperor of the Tahuantinsuyu, or the Inca Empire, prior to the Spanish conquest of Peru...
, Pizarro saw no further obstacles to his conquest and decided to march into Cuzco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
on November 15, 1533, bringing Friar Vincente de Valverde along with him and his followers. By March 23, 1534, a new church was erected in Cuzco and became Friar Valverde's cathedral. Pizarro also gave him a large native commandery, which Valverde mistreated by simply using them as slaves.
Later in 1534, friar Valverde headed back to Spain to assist Pizarro's brother, Hernando Pizarro
Hernándo Pizarro
Hernando Pizarro y de Vargas was a Spanish conquistador and one of the Pizarro brothers who ruled over Peru...
, in his negotiations at court. While in Spain, friar Valverde was also named by the empress-regent the bishop of Cuzco and Peru, since the original appointee, Fernando de Luque, had died 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...
in 1531.
By 1536 Valverde was yet again named protector of the Natives and inquisitor, and, being confirmed by the pope, he came back to Peru in the beginning of 1538, just before the execution of Diego de Almagro
Diego de Almagro
Diego de Almagro, , also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo , was a Spanish conquistador and a companion and later rival of Francisco Pizarro. He participated in the Spanish conquest of Peru and is credited as the first European discoverer of Chile.Almagro lost his left eye battling with coastal...
, which he had vainly tried to prevent.
When 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...
learned of Pizarro's victories, he named Valverde first Bishop of Cuzco, the royal city of the Peruvian kings; pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
ratified his choice in a consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
held in January, 1537. The new bishop found his spiritual duties arduous, for he had already been charged with the office of Protector of the Natives. This forced him to cross the rude soldiery constantly, as the adverturers who made up the Spanish armies had no thought of justice or mercy to the Indians. He strove to settle the feud between Almagro and Pizarro and after the assassination of the latter was forced to flee from Peru. Making his way to 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...
, he halted for a brief stay at the Island of Puná, near Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
in Ecuador, where he was put to death by the Indians on 31 October 1541. According to some sources,
the oppressed Indians revolted, captured Valverde, and poured molten gold down his throat as a punishment to greed.
Negative side
By far Friar Valverde's negative and contradictory side was his mistreatment of the natives of Peru which, instead of preaching the gospel, he oppressed, enslaved, and forced to work for the church. (This was the complete opposite to what Bartolomé de Las CasasBartolomé de Las Casas
Bartolomé de las Casas O.P. was a 16th-century Spanish historian, social reformer and Dominican friar. He became the first resident Bishop of Chiapas, and the first officially appointed "Protector of the Indians"...
, another Spanish priest, did years later by defending the native's rights in works he published and in visits to 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...
to inform King 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....
of the abuses committed against the local natives by the Conquistadors.)
Valverde was later appointed by Pizarro on the commission to apportion lands and natives to the royal officers, and the licentiate, Antonio de Game, whom Pizarro had appointed supreme judge of Cuzco. The latter charged Valverde in a letter to the emperor, dated March 10, 1539, with arbitrary acts and insisted that instead of protecting the natives, he only mistreated them and sought to confiscate their lands, and always gave the greater part to himself and his assistant. Despite the charges, on March 11, 1540, Friar Valverde officiated at the consecration of the new cathedral of Lima. He then headed back to Spain, where he presented to the emperor, by order of Pizarro, a memorial about the conquest under the title of "Relacion de la Conquista de los Reynos de Peru," in which he claimed that the natives could scarcely be considered as human beings, as they had no souls.