Francisco López de Zúñiga
Encyclopedia
Francisco López de Zúñiga y Meneses, 2nd Marquis of Baides and Count of Pedrosa (Villa de Pedrosa, Spain
; 1599 - 1655) was a Spanish
soldier who served as Royal Governor of Chile
from May of 1639 to May of 1646.
The son of Francisco López de Zúñiga y de la Cerda and María Meneses y Padilla. López de Zúñiga was a knight of the Order of Santiago
and Count of Pedrosa. He was married to María de Salazar in 1636.
For 16 years he served in the Spanish army, fighting in Flanders
and Germany
. In 1639 he was named Governor of the Kingdom of Chile
. During his rule, corruption flourished. However he liked the Jesuits and admired Fr. Luis de Valdivia
, and he brought gifts to make a new agreement with the natives. In 1641 he held the Parliament of Quillin, in the Quillin River valley, with the toqui
Lincopinchon and established the first peace in the Arauco War
with the indigenous Mapuche
people. Nevertheless a year later the Spaniards began using the military to put down uprisings.
At the end of his term he embarked on a Spanish armada departing from Callao
, Peru
on its way back to Spain. Although he lived to see his son born during the voyage, the fleet was attacked by an English squadron while within sight of Cadiz
, Spain, and López de Zúñiga was killed in this Battle of Cádiz (1656)
, as was his wife and one of his daughters.
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...
; 1599 - 1655) was a Spanish
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...
soldier who served as Royal 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...
from May of 1639 to May of 1646.
The son of Francisco López de Zúñiga y de la Cerda and María Meneses y Padilla. López de Zúñiga was a knight of the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
and Count of Pedrosa. He was married to María de Salazar in 1636.
For 16 years he served in the Spanish army, fighting in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1639 he was named Governor of the Kingdom of Chile
Kingdom of Chile
The General Captaincy of Chile or Gobernacion de Chile, was an administrative territory of the Viceroyalty of Peru in the Spanish Empire from 1541 to 1818, the year in which it declared itself independent, becoming the Republic of Chile...
. During his rule, corruption flourished. However he liked the Jesuits and admired Fr. Luis de Valdivia
Luis de Valdivia
Luis de Valdivia was a Spanish Jesuit missionary who defended the rights of the natives of Chile and pleaded for the reduction of the hostilities with the Mapuches in the Arauco War....
, and he brought gifts to make a new agreement with the natives. In 1641 he held the Parliament of Quillin, in the Quillin River valley, with the toqui
Toqui
Toqui is a title conferred by the Mapuche to those who are chosen as their leaders during times of war. The toqui is chosen in an assembly or parliament of the chieftains of the various clans or confederation of clans , allied during the war in question...
Lincopinchon and established the first peace in the Arauco War
Arauco War
The Arauco War was a conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people in what is now the Araucanía and Biobío regions of modern Chile...
with the indigenous 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...
people. Nevertheless a year later the Spaniards began using the military to put down uprisings.
At the end of his term he embarked on a Spanish armada departing from Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
, 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....
on its way back to Spain. Although he lived to see his son born during the voyage, the fleet was attacked by an English squadron while within sight of Cadiz
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....
, Spain, and López de Zúñiga was killed in this Battle of Cádiz (1656)
Battle of Cádiz (1656)
The Battle of Cádiz was an operation in the Anglo–Spanish War in which an English fleet destroyed and captured a Spanish treasure fleet off Cádiz....
, as was his wife and one of his daughters.