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Four decades after Alvarado's death, his mestiza daughter Leonor de Alvarado Xicoténcatl paid to transport his remains to Guatemala for reburial in the cathedral of the city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, now Antigua Guatemala.
Pedro de Alvarado, Spanish conquistador who helped conquer Mexico and Central America for Spain in the 16th century. He also served as governor of Guatemala (1527–31, 1537–41). He died while attempting to quell an Indian uprising in central Mexico. Learn more about Alvarado.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Early Life
- Mexico & The Aztecs
- Guatemala & The Maya
- El Salvador & The Pipiles
- South America, Honduras, & Home
- Death
Pedro de Alvarado y Mesía was born around 1485 in Badajoz, Spain. Alvarado first came to prominence when he voyaged to Spain's first colony in the Americas, Hispaniola (modern Dominican Republic/Haiti) in the Caribbean in 1510. In 1518, he was part of the expedition sent by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar (1465-1524), the Governor of Cuba, to explore th...
Alvarado was a professional soldier and second-in-command of the expedition led by Cortés which landed on the Mexican coast in 1519. Cortés and his conquistadors made their way to Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec civilization, after first defeating the Tlaxcalans. The Tlaxacalans then became allies when Cortés promised them spoils from victor...
In December 1523, Alvarado led a land expedition to explore the southern part of Mexico and beyond. The idea was to eventually link up with a fleet led by Cristóbal de Olid and so thoroughly incorporate this part of Central America into the colony of New Spain. Reaching Guatemala in 1524, Alvarado was able to take advantage of the smallpox epidemic...
Meanwhile, Alvarado had pressed on deeper south in June 1524 into what is today El Salvador. He defeated the Pipiles Indians at a battle near Acajutla but did not manage to control the region. The rainy season was not helpful, and two fortified cities, Cuscatlán and Izalco stood firm against Spanish attacks. Alvarado was badly wounded in the campai...
Alvarado seems to have been unable to resist the lure of action and adventure, and in 1534, he joined an expedition to link up with Francisco Pizarro (c. 1478-1541) in South America or, more accurately, to grab what he could of the collapsing golden Inca Empire before Pizarrodid. Pizarro was having some problems subduing an Inca last stand led by t...
Alvarado died in June-July 1541 near Guadalajara, Mexico. He had been killed from injuries sustained when his horse unseated him into a ravine and then fell on top of him while he was giving aid to his fellow conquistador Cristóbal de Oñate who was battling a local uprising in Nochistlán. This untimely end happened a few weeks before Alvarado had b...
- Mark Cartwright
May 15, 2019 · Known For: Conquest and enslavement of indigenous people of Mexico and Latin America. Born: c. 1485, Badajoz, Castile, Spain. Parents: Gómez de Alvarado, Leonor de Contreras. Died: 1541, in or near Guadalajara, New Spain (Mexico) Spouse (s): Francisca de la Cueva, Beatriz de la Cueva.
- He took part in the Invasions of the Aztecs, Maya and Inca. Pedro de Alvarado has the distinction of being the only major conquistador to take part in the conquests of the Aztecs, Maya, and Inca.
- He was one of Cortes' top Lieutenants. Hernan Cortes relied greatly on Pedro de Alvarado. He was his top lieutenant for most of the Conquest of the Aztecs.
- His Nickname came from the God of the Sun. Pedro de Alvarado was fair-skinned with blond hair and beard: this distinguished him not only from the natives of the New World but also from the majority of his Spanish colleagues.
- He participated in the Juan de Grijalva Expedition. Although he is best remembered for his participation in Cortes' expedition of conquest, Alvarado actually set foot on the mainland long before most of his companions.
May 18, 2018 · Alvarado, Pedro de (1485–1541) Spanish conquistador. Alvarado accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico (1519–21). His actions led to the death of Montezuma. In 1524 Alvarado became governor and captain-general of Guatemala, and formed settlements on the coast of Honduras.
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He conquered Guatemala in 1523-1524 and served as Governor of much of Central America from 1527 until his death in a campaign against rebellious natives in Mexico in 1541. He, like other Spanish conquistadors, was known for his brutality. Science and Its Times: Understanding the Social Significance of Scientific Discovery.
