Juan Perez de Zurita
Encyclopedia
Juan Perez de Zurita Spanish
Conquistador
, was the son of Alonso Diaz de Zurita, native of Cañete de las Torres
and Dona Ines Fernandez de Cordova. In 1536 he began his military career. In 1548 he was in Granada
and in 1550 he embarked to the Indies
with his brother Alonso de Zurita. In 1553 went on to the kingdom of Peru
. At the beginning of 1557, by order of the Viceroy Hurtado de Mendoza
he was sent with an expedition of 700 soldiers under the command of his son Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, to Chile
. From there by order of the new Governor Mendoza, he was sent with a command of 70 men with the position of Lieutenant Governor and Greater Justice for the province of Tucuman
, Juries and Dieguitas. He crossed the Andes Mountains and arrived at Santiago del Estero
in May 1558.
. With a new immigration from Chile and Peru, Zurita at the head of the government was able to bring the settlers a larger measure of prosperity than they had previously enjoyed and treated all parties with equal justice. In honour of the union of Philip II
and Queen Mary
, Zurita changed the name of the province to Neuva Inglaterra (New England). He also founded three towns: Londres
(London), Canete, and Cordova. Zurita continued the task of subjugating the Diaguita
s and Calchaquí
es Indians with some success.
When Diego López de Zúñiga y Velasco
, arrived in Peru
as the new Viceroy in 1560, he was determined to make the province of Tucuman
independent, except as subordinated to the viceroy of Peru. This proposed change provoked a revolt on the part of those who wished to maintain the connection with Chile. Londres inhabitants led this movement, reinforced by the garrison of the town, who went over to them. The uprising was suppressed, but opposition aroused by Zurita finally persuaded the Governor of Chile that it was desirable to transfer the affairs of the province of Tucuman to other hands. Gregorio Castaneda was, therefore, sent to supersede Zurita.
Zurita was transferred, against his will, back to Chile, but rendered service to the governors Don Pedro de Villagra
and don Rodrigo de Quiroga
in the Arauco War
. At first he underestimated the Mapuche
and his column of reinforcements from Angol
for Concepcion
was ambushed by Millalelmo
and 3000 Mapuche at the Andalién River
in 1564. He managed to escape annihilation and get back to Santiago, Chile
. Following the Mapuche's failed Siege of Concepcion
he joined Governor Villagra in the Second Battle of Reinohuelén and Battle of Tulmillán ending the revolt of the Mapuche north of the Bio-Bio River
.
. He was married with Dona Jeronima de Mena y Saldaña. He died in La Plata
in the year 1595.
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...
, was the son of Alonso Diaz de Zurita, native of Cañete de las Torres
Cañete de las Torres
Cañete de las Torres is a city located in the province of Córdoba, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the city has a population of 3211 inhabitants.-External links:* - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía...
and Dona Ines Fernandez de Cordova. In 1536 he began his military career. In 1548 he was in Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
and in 1550 he embarked to the Indies
Indies
The Indies is a term that has been used to describe the lands of South and Southeast Asia, occupying all of the present India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and also Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, East Timor, Malaysia and...
with his brother Alonso de Zurita. In 1553 went on to the kingdom of Peru
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
. At the beginning of 1557, by order of the Viceroy Hurtado de Mendoza
Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, 3rd Marquis of Cañete
Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza y Cabrera, 3rd Marquis of Cañete was a Spanish military officer and, from June 29, 1556 to his death on March 30, 1561, the fifth Viceroy of Peru.-Origins and military career:...
he was sent with an expedition of 700 soldiers under the command of his son Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. From there by order of the new Governor Mendoza, he was sent with a command of 70 men with the position of Lieutenant Governor and Greater Justice for the province of Tucuman
Tucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
, Juries and Dieguitas. He crossed the Andes Mountains and arrived at Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero is the capital of Santiago del Estero Province in northern Argentina. It has a population of 244,733 inhabitants, making it the twelfth largest city in the country, with a surface area of 2,116 km². It lies on the Dulce River and on National Route 9, at a distance of...
in May 1558.
Biography
Zurita relieved Juan Gregorio Bazan the chief of the few soldiers or colonists who remained in the province, that was torn by discord and afflicted by crime continuing a precarious existence after the departure of the previous governorFrancisco de Aguirre (conquistador)
Francisco de Aguirre was a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.-Early life:...
. With a new immigration from Chile and Peru, Zurita at the head of the government was able to bring the settlers a larger measure of prosperity than they had previously enjoyed and treated all parties with equal justice. In honour of the union of 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....
and Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, Zurita changed the name of the province to Neuva Inglaterra (New England). He also founded three towns: Londres
Londres, Catamarca
Londres is a small tourist town in the Belén departamento of Catamarca Province, Argentina. It is situated at above sea level alongside the Ruta Nacional 40...
(London), Canete, and Cordova. Zurita continued the task of subjugating the Diaguita
Diaguita
The Diaguita, also called Diaguita-Calchaquí, are a group of South American indigenous peoples. The Diaguita culture developed between the 8th and 16th centuries in what are now the provinces of Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja and Tucumán in northwestern Argentina, and in the Atacama and Coquimbo...
s and Calchaquí
Calchaquí
The Calchaquí were a tribe of South American Indians of the Diaguita group, now extinct, who formerly occupied northern Argentina. Stone and other remains prove them to have reached a high degree of civilization...
es Indians with some success.
When Diego López de Zúñiga y Velasco
Diego López de Zúñiga y Velasco
Diego López de Zúñiga y Velasco, 4th Count of Nieva was the sixth viceroy of Peru, from April 17, 1561 to his death on February 20, 1564.-Early career:...
, arrived in 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....
as the new Viceroy in 1560, he was determined to make the province of Tucuman
Tucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
independent, except as subordinated to the viceroy of Peru. This proposed change provoked a revolt on the part of those who wished to maintain the connection with Chile. Londres inhabitants led this movement, reinforced by the garrison of the town, who went over to them. The uprising was suppressed, but opposition aroused by Zurita finally persuaded the Governor of Chile that it was desirable to transfer the affairs of the province of Tucuman to other hands. Gregorio Castaneda was, therefore, sent to supersede Zurita.
Zurita was transferred, against his will, back to Chile, but rendered service to the governors Don Pedro de Villagra
Pedro de Villagra
Pedro de Villagra y Martínez was a Spanish soldier who participated in the conquest of Chile, being appointed its Royal Governor between 1563 and 1565....
and don Rodrigo de Quiroga
Rodrigo de Quiroga
Rodrigo de Quiroga López de Ulloa was a Spanish conquistador of Galician origin. He was twice the Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...
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...
. At first he underestimated the 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...
and his column of reinforcements from Angol
Angol
Angol is a commune and capital city of the Malleco Province in the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. It is located at the foot of the Nahuelbuta Range and next to the Vergara River, that permitted communications by small boats to the Bío-Bío River and Concepción. This strategic position explains...
for Concepcion
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
was ambushed by Millalelmo
Millalelmo
Millalelmo or Millarelmo was a famous Mapuche military leader in the second great Mapuche rebellion that began in 1561 during the Arauco War...
and 3000 Mapuche at the Andalién River
Andalién River
The Andalién river is a river in the province of Concepcion that was formed north northeast of the city of Florida and flows west to and crosses part of the city of Concepción, Chile, and then north through the communes of Penco and Talcahuano, ending at the Bay of Concepción.- Source :* pg. 31-32...
in 1564. He managed to escape annihilation and get back to Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. Following the Mapuche's failed Siege of Concepcion
Siege of Concepcion
During the Siege of Concepcion of the Arauco War, 20,000 warriors of the army of the Mapuche laid siege to the Spanish garrison and civil population in the fortress of Concepcion, Chile.-History:...
he joined Governor Villagra in the Second Battle of Reinohuelén and Battle of Tulmillán ending the revolt of the Mapuche north of the Bio-Bio River
Bío-Bío River
The Biobío River is the second largest river in Chile. It originates from Icalma and Galletué lakes in the Andes and flows 380 km to the Gulf of Arauco on the Pacific Ocean....
.
Family
In 1571, the Viceroy of Peru, Don Francisco de Toledo, gave permission for him to found two settlements in the government of Santa Cruz de la SierraSanta Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
. He was married with Dona Jeronima de Mena y Saldaña. He died in La Plata
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
in the year 1595.
Source
External links
- Juan Pérez de Zurita Picture of Juan Pérez de Zurita