Pedro de Mendoza

Infobox Person
name = Pedro de Mendoza y Luján
occupation = Spanish Conquistador

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image_size = 230px
caption = Monument to Pedro de Mendoza, Parque Lezama, neighborhood of San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
birth_date = c. 1487
birth_place = Guadix, Granada (Spain) ["Pedro de Mendoza." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 08 Oct. 2008 .]
death_date = death date|1537|6|23|mf=y
death_place = Atlantic Ocean
names in other languages =
religion = Catholic

Pedro de Mendoza y Luján (c. 1487 – June 23 1537), was a Spanish conquistador, and the first "adelantado" of the Río de la Plata.

Mendoza was from a noble family in the Andalusian town of Guadix in the province of Granada, high in the favor of Emperor Charles V. In 1524, he was dubbed a Knight of Alcántara and later received the Order of Santiago.

In 1529, he offered to explore South America at his own expense and establish colonies. Thanks to the efforts of his mother María de Mendoza, in 1534, his offer was accepted: he was made "adelantado" governor, captain general, and chief justice over New Andalusia. This grant allowed him authority over as much land as he could conquer, within 200 leagues of the southern limit of New Toledo. Although this was measured along the Pacific coast, it was understood his efforts would be directed towards the Rio de la Plata on the Atlantic. The Emperor gave Mendoza 2000 ducats and advanced 2000 more on condition that within two years Mendoza should transport 1000 colonists, build roads into the interior, and construct three forts. He was to have half the treasure of the chiefs killed and nine-tenths of the ransom. The office of Governor was also, in theory, made hereditary.

That year, he set sail with a considerable fleet, but a terrible tempest scattered it off the coast of Brazil. Here his lieutenant, Juan de Osario, was assassinated, according to some authorities by the orders of Mendoza himself because of suspected disloyalty. Mendoza sailed up the Río de la Plata in 1535 and founded Buenos Aires on February 2, 1536.

There the Spaniards encountered a group of roughly three thousand Indian natives dispersed throughout the surrounding area known as the Querandís, who shared with them their food, however scarce. In spite of this, the Spaniards soon took the natives and their generosity for granted and as a result, the Querandís ended relations with the white men and relocated further away from the Spanish settlement. Angered by the sudden hostility, Mendoza sent his brother to lead a force against the natives. [Crow, John A. "Conquest of the River Plate." The Epic of Latin America. By John A. Crow. 4th ed. New York: University of California P, 1992. 129-30.] He was killed with three-fourths of his men at the Battle of the Luján River. A coalition of the natives formed, and they attacked the city again and again, many times leaving the city almost completely burned to the ground. Suffering from syphilis, Mendoza appointed Juan de Ayolas to succeed him as governor, who later founded the city of Asunción in Paraguay in 1537. [Crow, John A. "Conquest of the River Plate." The Epic of Latin America. By John A. Crow. 4th ed. New York: University of California P, 1992. 129-30.] Mendoza, disappointed and broken in health, embarked for Spain in 1537, but died a maniac during the voyage.

He was succeeded as governor by Juan de Ayolas, but as de Ayolas was far inland exploring the Paraguay, administration of Buenos Aires fell to Francisco Ruíz Galán.

References

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###@@@KEY@@@###succession box|title=Governor of New Andalusia|before="(none)"|after=Juan de Ayolas|years=1534–1537endbox