Pedro de Villagra

Pedro de Villagra
From left to right:García Hurtado de Mendoza,Pedro de Villagra andRodrigo de Quirogain an illustration byAlonso de Ovalle
Royal Governor of Chile
In office 1563–1565
Monarch	Philip II
Preceded by	Francisco de Villagra
Succeeded by	Rodrigo de Quiroga
Personal details
Born	1513 Mombeltrán,Ávila, Spain
Died	11 September 1577 Lima,Peru
Military service
Allegiance	Spain
Years of service	1530s–1565
Battles/wars	Conquest of Chile Battle of Peteroa Siege of Concepción

Pedro de Villagra y Martínez(1513 inMombeltrán,Ávila Province– September 11, 1577 inLima) was a Spanish soldier who participated in the conquest ofChile,being appointed itsRoyal Governorbetween 1563 and 1565.

His father was Juan de Villagra, a minor civil official. In 1537 he moved from Spain toCartagena de Indias,then toSanta Martaand laterPeru.He arrived in Chile with the expedition ofPedro de Valdivia.

With the founding ofSantiago,Villagra held for 4 years the post of the city's mayor. Valdivia also granted him anencomiendainTirúa.After the death of the governor, he moved back to Peru, where he married Beatriz de Figueroa.

He returned to Chile when his nephew (cousin?)Francisco de Villagrawas governor for the first time. He fought in theArauco Warand took command of the southern forces when the governor became ill. In 1556 he commanded the forces that droveLautaroback from Santiago in theBattle of Peteroa.

He again commanded forces under Francisco de Villagra when he became governor again in 1561. When Francisco de Villagra died on June 22, 1563, he left Pedro de Villagra as interim governor. This was later confirmed by theViceroy of Peru,Diego López de Zúñiga y Velasco.His military strategy led him to concentrate his forces, vacating the fortAraucoin order to reinforceAngolandConcepción.Some of the worstMapuchedefeats would be suffered through the attack on Angol, where the garrisoning forces led byLorenzo Bernal del Mercadoinflicted over a thousand of casualties and killed thetoquiIllanguliénin theBattle of Angol.Later he headed a new campaign in the south, relieving theSiege of Concepcionand resulting in the victorious battles ofReinohuelenandTolmillánagainst the Mapuches north of theBio-Bio River.This series of defeats resulted in a few years of apparent peace between the Spanish and Mapuche.

With the death of the viceroy López de Zúñiga y Velasco in 1564 the political situation deteriorated for Villagra. In 1565, at the orders of the new viceroyLope García de Castro,he was replaced byRodrigo de Quiroga,arrested, and sent to Peru, where he managed to clear his name. After his absolution he petitioned the king for the reparations he believed himself due, but he never received a response.

He died in Lima on September 11, 1577.

References

This article was translated from the Spanish wikiarticleon March 22-3, 2006.