Gonzalo Piña Ludueña
Encyclopedia
Gonzalo Piña Ludueña or Lidueña (Gibraltar
, 1545 – 1600) was a Spanish
conquistador
and colonial administrator
in the Province of Venezuela
between 1597 and 1600.
Gonzalo Piña Ludueña was born in Gibraltar
in 1545 which was then part of Spain. He moved to the New World
and settled down in Mérida
, currently Western Venezuela, becoming one of the first Spanish inhabitants of the town. He was since then responsible of establishing several new towns and hamlets in the area, such as Nuestra Señora de Pedraza (founded in 1591 and known nowadays as Pedraza
, state of Barinas
), or San Antonio de Gibraltar (currently known as Gibraltar
, and located in the state of Zulia
). San Antonio de Gibraltar was named after Gonzalo Piña Ludueña's hometown as authorised by the city council of Mérida which, in need of a new harbour, commissioned its foundation on shore of Lake Maracaibo
in 1592.
Upon the promotion of the former governor of the Province of Venezuela, Diego de Osorio, to head of the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo
, Piña Ludueña was appointed Governor by the king Philip II
on April 17, 1597, and remained in office until his death, on March 28, 1600. He also wrote a Description of the Lake Maracaibo and Magdalena River (Descripción de la laguna de Maracaybo y río de la Magdalena).
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, 1545 – 1600) 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...
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...
and colonial administrator
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....
in the Province of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
between 1597 and 1600.
Gonzalo Piña Ludueña was born in Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
in 1545 which was then part of Spain. He moved to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
and settled down in Mérida
Mérida, Mérida
Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida, Venezuela, is the capital of the municipality of Libertador and the state of Mérida, and is one of the principal cities of the Venezuelan Andes...
, currently Western Venezuela, becoming one of the first Spanish inhabitants of the town. He was since then responsible of establishing several new towns and hamlets in the area, such as Nuestra Señora de Pedraza (founded in 1591 and known nowadays as Pedraza
Pedraza Municipality
The Pedraza Municipality is one of the 12 municipalities that makes up the Venezuelan state of Barinas and, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 62,847...
, state of Barinas
Barinas (state)
Barinas State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital is Barinas. Current President Hugo Chávez was born in this state...
), or San Antonio de Gibraltar (currently known as Gibraltar
Gibraltar, Venezuela
Gibraltar is a town located in Zulia State in Venezuela between Bobures to the south and Boscan to the north. It is on the shore of Maracaibo Lake. The population is around 4,000....
, and located in the state of Zulia
Zulia
Zulia State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. In June 30, 2010, it had an estimated population of 3,821,068, giving it the largest population among Venezuela's states. It is located in the northwestern part of the country...
). San Antonio de Gibraltar was named after Gonzalo Piña Ludueña's hometown as authorised by the city council of Mérida which, in need of a new harbour, commissioned its foundation on shore of Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo is a large brackish bay in Venezuela at . It is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by Tablazo Strait at the northern end, and fed by numerous rivers, the largest being the Catatumbo. It is commonly considered a lake rather than a bay or lagoon, and at 13,210 km² it would be the...
in 1592.
Upon the promotion of the former governor of the Province of Venezuela, Diego de Osorio, to head of the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo
Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo
The Royal Audiencia of Santo Domingo was the first court of the Spanish crown in America. It was created by Ferdinand V of Castile in his decree of 1511, but due to disagreements between the governor of Hispaniola, Diego Colon and the Crown, it was not implemented until it was reestablished by...
, Piña Ludueña was appointed Governor by the 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....
on April 17, 1597, and remained in office until his death, on March 28, 1600. He also wrote a Description of the Lake Maracaibo and Magdalena River (Descripción de la laguna de Maracaybo y río de la Magdalena).