Juan Vázquez de Coronado
Encyclopedia
Juan Vásquez de Coronado y Anaya (Salamanca
, 1523 – 1565) was a Spanish
conquistador
, remembered especially for his role in the colonization of Costa Rica
, in Central America
, where he gained a reputation for fairness, effective administration, and good relationships with the native population. He was a nephew of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado y Luján
, who explored the southwestern United States
between 1540 and 1542.
By a decree given at Aranjuez
by King Philip II of Spain
on April 8, 1565, Juan Vásquez de Coronado was appointed as the first royal governor and first Adelantado
(a hereditary title) of the province of Costa Rica, but his ship disappeared in a storm off the coast of southern Spain while he was on his way to receive his appointments from the monarch. He was married to Isabel, a daughter of Pedro Arias Dávila, the principal conqueror of Panamá
. The Vásquez de Coronado Canton
, one of the administrative divisions of the Province of San José
, in the Republic Costa Rica, was named in his honor.
, Spain
, the bastard son of a prominent nobleman, Gonzalo Vásquez de Coronado y Luján (c. 1500 – Valladolid
, 1540), sixth Lord
of Coquilla and la Torre de Juan Vásquez, perpetual Alguacil-Mayor of the Royal Audiencia (i.e., appellate court) of Valladolid
, by an extramatrimonial relationship with Catalina de Anaya, from whom there are no further details but undoubtedly belonged to one of the most principal families of Salamanca
.
Vásquez de Coronado went very young to America, at only 17 years old, and established first in Mexico
and then in Guatemala
, where he started to fulfill official charges, such as Deputy
of the Cabildo
of the City of Santiago de los Caballeros
and Ordinary Alcalde
of Guatemala
. In 1548 he married Isabel Arias-Dávila, the daughter of Captain Gaspar Arias-Dávila, and a first cousin to Pedrarias Dávila
, both of whom were amongst the most prominent Conquerors of New Spain
and Guatemala. Having issue, he passed to El Salvador
, where he enjoyed of an encomienda
at Naolingo and was appointed Alcalde
-Mayor of San Salvador
in 1549. Later he appears occupying the same charge in Honduras
in 1556 and in Nicaragua
in 1561 and finally in Costa Rica in 1562. In the country he distinguished himself for the pacific and fair way with which he executed the tasks of the conquest, being very respected and esteemed either by the Indians and by the Spanish colonists. In 1565 he traveled to Spain where for his merits King Philip II
granted him the charge of Governor of Costa Rica and the hereditary title of Adelantado of Costa Rica. However, in the return voyage to take possession of his charges, his ship disappeared in a storm
in front of the coasts of southern Spain.
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...
, 1523 – 1565) 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...
, remembered especially for his role in the colonization of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, where he gained a reputation for fairness, effective administration, and good relationships with the native population. He was a nephew of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado y Luján
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado y Luján was a Spanish conquistador, who visited New Mexico and other parts of what are now the southwestern United States between 1540 and 1542...
, who explored the southwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
between 1540 and 1542.
By a decree given at Aranjuez
Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town lying 48 km south of Madrid, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 48 km from Toledo. As of 2009, it has a population of 54,055.-History:...
by King Philip II of Spain
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 8, 1565, Juan Vásquez de Coronado was appointed as the first royal governor and first Adelantado
Adelantado
Adelantado was a military title held by some Spanish conquistadores of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.Adelantados were granted directly by the Monarch the right to become governors and justices of a specific region, which they charged with conquering, in exchange for funding and organizing the...
(a hereditary title) of the province of Costa Rica, but his ship disappeared in a storm off the coast of southern Spain while he was on his way to receive his appointments from the monarch. He was married to Isabel, a daughter of Pedro Arias Dávila, the principal conqueror of Panamá
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...
. The Vásquez de Coronado Canton
Vásquez de Coronado Canton
Vásquez de Coronado, also spelled Vázquez de Coronado, is the name of the 11th canton in the province of San José in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 222.20 km², and has a population of 59,113...
, one of the administrative divisions of the Province of San José
San José Province
San José is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the central part of the country, and borders the provinces of Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Limón and Puntarenas. The provincial capital is San José. The province covers an area of 4,965.9 km²...
, in the Republic Costa Rica, was named in his honor.
Life
Juan Vásquez de Coronado was born in SalamancaSalamanca
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...
, 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...
, the bastard son of a prominent nobleman, Gonzalo Vásquez de Coronado y Luján (c. 1500 – Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
, 1540), sixth Lord
Majorat
Majorat is the right of succession to property according to age . A majorat would be inherited by the oldest son, or if there was no son, the nearest relative. This law existed in some of the European countries and was designed to prevent the distribution of wealthy estates between many members of...
of Coquilla and la Torre de Juan Vásquez, perpetual Alguacil-Mayor of the Royal Audiencia (i.e., appellate court) of Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
, by an extramatrimonial relationship with Catalina de Anaya, from whom there are no further details but undoubtedly belonged to one of the most principal families of 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...
.
Vásquez de Coronado went very young to America, at only 17 years old, and established first in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and then in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, where he started to fulfill official charges, such as Deputy
Second-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...
of the Cabildo
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
of the City of Santiago de los Caballeros
Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches...
and Ordinary Alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
of Guatemala
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
. In 1548 he married Isabel Arias-Dávila, the daughter of Captain Gaspar Arias-Dávila, and a first cousin to Pedrarias Dávila
Pedrarias Dávila
Pedrarias Dávila y Ortiz de Cota , was a Spanish colonial administrator...
, both of whom were amongst the most prominent Conquerors of New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
and Guatemala. Having issue, he passed to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, where he enjoyed of an encomienda
Encomienda
The encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
at Naolingo and was appointed Alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
-Mayor of San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
in 1549. Later he appears occupying the same charge in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
in 1556 and in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in 1561 and finally in Costa Rica in 1562. In the country he distinguished himself for the pacific and fair way with which he executed the tasks of the conquest, being very respected and esteemed either by the Indians and by the Spanish colonists. In 1565 he traveled to Spain where for his merits 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....
granted him the charge of Governor of Costa Rica and the hereditary title of Adelantado of Costa Rica. However, in the return voyage to take possession of his charges, his ship disappeared in a storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
in front of the coasts of southern Spain.
One of the most relevant characters of costarican history is without doubt Juan Vásquez de Coronado, conqueror, first Governor and first Adelantado of Costa Rica. Despite his historical transcendency as one of the main builders of the nation, Vásquez de Coronado is one of the main genearchs of the costarican population, to such a point that a widespread study evidences that he is the progenitor of a true elite, that which until 1975 has given 29 of its 44 Heads of State, and more than two hundred Parliamentaries.
Issue
He and his wife had at least one son, Gonzalo Vásquez de Coronado Arias, who married Ana Rodríguez del Padrón and had:- Diego Vásquez de Coronado Rodríguez, married to Francisca del Castillo Hoces, and had:
- Gertrudis Vásquez de Coronado y del Castillo, married to Pedro Ocón y Trillo, and had:
- María Ocón y Trillo Vásquez de Coronado, married to Diego Vásquez de Montiel, and had:
- Diego Vásquez Ocón y Trillo, married to Sebastiana Echavarría Navarro, and had:
- Micaela Montiel Echavarria, married to Simón Lacayo de Briones Pomar, and had:
- Gabriel Lacayo Vásquez, married to Manuela Marenco Alarcón y Guerrero, and had:
- Francisca Lacayo Marenco, married to Blas de la Cerda Aguilar, and had:
- Cayetano de la Cerda Lacayo, married to María de Jesús Taborga ..., and had:
- Manuel Antonio de la Cerda Taborga
- Cayetano de la Cerda Lacayo, married to María de Jesús Taborga ..., and had:
- Francisca Lacayo Marenco, married to Blas de la Cerda Aguilar, and had:
- Gabriel Lacayo Vásquez, married to Manuela Marenco Alarcón y Guerrero, and had:
- Micaela Montiel Echavarria, married to Simón Lacayo de Briones Pomar, and had:
- Diego Vásquez Ocón y Trillo, married to Sebastiana Echavarría Navarro, and had:
- María Ocón y Trillo Vásquez de Coronado, married to Diego Vásquez de Montiel, and had:
- Gertrudis Vásquez de Coronado y del Castillo, married to Pedro Ocón y Trillo, and had:
- Andrea Vásquez de Coronado Rodríguez, married to Diego Peláez de Lermos, and had:
- Antonia Peláez Vásquez de Coronado, married to PortuguesePortuguese peopleThe Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
Sebastián (Sebastião) PereiraPereira (surname)Pereira is a common surname in the Portuguese and Galician languages, namely in Portugal, Brazil, and Galicia. It was originally a noble Christian toponym of the Middle Ages, taken from the feudal possession of Pereira , which in Portuguese means 'pear tree'. The name also exists in variations such...
Cardoso, and had:- Isabel Pereira Peláez, married to José Sandoval Ocampo, and had:
- Inés Sandoval Pereira, married to José Guevara Maldonado, and had:
- Alvaro Guevara Sandoval, married to María Sáenz Vásquez, and had:
- Ángela Guevara Sáenz, married to Pedro Alvarado Vidamartel, and had:
- Pedro Alvarado Guevara, married to Manuela Baeza Baroto, and had:
- Jacoba Alvarado Baeza, married to Francisco Carazo Soto, and had:
- Lorenzo Carazo Alvarado, married to María del Rosario Aranda Muñoz, and had:
- Evaristo Carazo Aranda, 42nd PresidentPresident of NicaraguaThe position of President of Nicaragua was created in the Constitution of 1854. From 1825 until the Constitution of 1838 the title of the position was known as Head of State and from 1838 to 1854 as Supreme Director .-Heads of State of Nicaragua within the Federal Republic of Central America...
of NicaraguaNicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
- Evaristo Carazo Aranda, 42nd President
- Lorenzo Carazo Alvarado, married to María del Rosario Aranda Muñoz, and had:
- Jacoba Alvarado Baeza, married to Francisco Carazo Soto, and had:
- Pedro Alvarado Guevara, married to Manuela Baeza Baroto, and had:
- Ángela Guevara Sáenz, married to Pedro Alvarado Vidamartel, and had:
- Alvaro Guevara Sandoval, married to María Sáenz Vásquez, and had:
- Inés Sandoval Pereira, married to José Guevara Maldonado, and had:
- Isabel Pereira Peláez, married to José Sandoval Ocampo, and had:
- Antonia Peláez Vásquez de Coronado, married to Portuguese