Alejo García
Encyclopedia
Aleixo Garcia, also Alejo García (d. 1525 Paraguay
) was a Portuguese
-born explorer and conquistador
who explored the Rio de la Plata
in service to Spain
, and later the Paraguay
and Bolivia
.
He was a member of the failed expedition of Juan Díaz de Solís
, seeking to find a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. After reaching the mouths of the Uruguay
and Paraná
, it was apparent that the Rio de la Plata
was not such a strait. At this point, de Solís was killed - on testimony of his crew - by cannibal Indians (variously identified as the Charrúa
or Guaraní) and his lieutenants opted to return to Spain.
On their return, some of their boats were shipwrecked off Santa Catarina
in present-day Brazil. Among the survivors was Aleixo Garcia, a Portuguese
adventurer who had previously made contact with the Guaraní.
He now traveled inland, living among the Guaranís who know of the network of trails called PEABIRU that covered this part of South America. While there, he heard tales of a "White King" who lived to the west, ruling cities of incomparable riches and splendor.
After eight years, García had gathered enough men and supplies to attempt a voyage to the land of the "White King." Marching towards the west, using the trail network Peabiru, his company discovered a great waterfall. Credit for the discovery of the Iguazu Falls
is usually given to the governor Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
, and historian Efraím Cardozo
asserts García crossed the Paraná
at the smaller waterfall called Monday.
During 1524 and 1525, the small group recruited an army of about 2,000 local Guaraní soldiers from the vicinity of Asunción
as reinforcement to invade the promising new land. They then entered the Chaco
, a rough semi-desert region. García was the first European to cross the Chaco and even managed to penetrate the outer defenses of the Inca Empire
on the hills of the Andes
, in present-day Bolivia
. He was the first European to do so, accomplishing this eight years before Francisco Pizarro
.
Garcia looted an impressive booty of silver. When the army of Huayna Cápac
arrived to challenge him, García then retreated with the spoils, only to be assassinated by his Indian allies near San Pedro
on the Paraguay River
.
The Indians, however, spared the life of his son, who was the first Paraguayan mestizo
. News of this excursion into Incan territory later distracted Sebastian Cabot
from his expedition to the East Indies
(which could have resulted in circumnavigation
of the globe before Ferdinand Magellan
) causing him to imprison or maroon his lieutenants and remain in the Rio de la Plata
region for several years.
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...
) was a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
-born explorer and 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...
who explored 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...
in service to Spain
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
, and later the Paraguay
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...
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
He was a member of the failed expedition of Juan Díaz de Solís
Juan Díaz de Solís
Juan Díaz de Solís was a Spanish navigator and explorer.Díaz de Solís was probably born in Lebrija, Seville, although some other authors argue that his birth may have actually taken place in Portugal to an Andalusian emigree family....
, seeking to find a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. After reaching the mouths of the Uruguay
Uruguay River
The Uruguay River is a river in South America. It flows from north to south and makes boundary with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, separating some of the Argentine provinces of the Mesopotamia from the other two countries...
and Paraná
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
, it was apparent that 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...
was not such a strait. At this point, de Solís was killed - on testimony of his crew - by cannibal Indians (variously identified as the Charrúa
Charrua
The Charrúa were an indigenous people of southern South America in the area today known as Uruguay and southern Brazil. They were a nomadic people that sustained themselves through fishing and foraging...
or Guaraní) and his lieutenants opted to return to Spain.
On their return, some of their boats were shipwrecked off Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (island)
Florianópolis Island is an island in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. It is located on the south coast of Brazil between the south 27° latitude and west 48° longitude...
in present-day Brazil. Among the survivors was Aleixo Garcia, a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
adventurer who had previously made contact with the Guaraní.
He now traveled inland, living among the Guaranís who know of the network of trails called PEABIRU that covered this part of South America. While there, he heard tales of a "White King" who lived to the west, ruling cities of incomparable riches and splendor.
After eight years, García had gathered enough men and supplies to attempt a voyage to the land of the "White King." Marching towards the west, using the trail network Peabiru, his company discovered a great waterfall. Credit for the discovery of the Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows...
is usually given to the governor Alvar 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...
, and historian Efraím Cardozo
Efraím Cardozo
Efraím Cardozo was a Paraguayan politician and historian.-Childhood and studies:Born in Villarrica, Paraguay, he spent his childhood in a noble and wise home. Son of the maestro guaireño Ramon Indalecio Cardozo and Juana Sosa, inherited from his elders the love for reading and the noble principles...
asserts García crossed the Paraná
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
at the smaller waterfall called Monday.
During 1524 and 1525, the small group recruited an army of about 2,000 local Guaraní soldiers from the vicinity of Asunción
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...
as reinforcement to invade the promising new land. They then entered the Chaco
Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it is connected with the Pantanal region...
, a rough semi-desert region. García was the first European to cross the Chaco and even managed to penetrate the outer defenses of the Inca Empire
Inca Empire
The Inca Empire, or Inka Empire , was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru. The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century...
on the hills of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, in present-day Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. He was the first European to do so, accomplishing this eight years before 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:...
.
Garcia looted an impressive booty of silver. When the army of Huayna Cápac
Huayna Capac
Huayna Capac was the eleventh Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire and sixth of the Hanan dynasty. He was the successor to Tupac Inca Yupanqui.-Name:In Quechua, his name is spelled Wayna Qhapaq, and in Southern Quechua, it is Vaina Ghapakh...
arrived to challenge him, García then retreated with the spoils, only to be assassinated by his Indian allies near San Pedro
San Pedro, Paraguay
San Pedro de Ycuamandiyú is a city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the department of San Pedro.The conquistador Alejo García who was the first European to cross Paraguay and reach the Inca empire in 1524 was killed in San Pedro on his return.-Etymology:...
on the Paraguay River
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
.
The Indians, however, spared the life of his son, who was the first Paraguayan mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
. News of this excursion into Incan territory later distracted Sebastian Cabot
Sebastian Cabot (explorer)
Sebastian Cabot was an explorer, born in the Venetian Republic.-Origins:...
from his expedition to the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
(which could have resulted in circumnavigation
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
of the globe before Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
) causing him to imprison or maroon his lieutenants and remain in 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...
region for several years.