Pedro de Valdivia - The expedition, Conquest of Chile, New initiatives, The uprising of 1553

Spanish soldier, born near La Serena, W Spain. He went to Venezuela (c.1534) and then to Peru, where he became Pizarro's lieutenant (1538). He commanded the expedition to Chile (1540), and founded Santiago (1541) and other cities, including Concepción (1550) and Valdivia (1552). In 1559, he attempted with a small force to relieve Tucapel, which was being besieged by the Araucanians, and was captured and killed.

He was the founder of various cities within the territory, including Santiago, Concepción, and Valdivia.

Pedro de Valdivia is believed to have been born in Badajoz, Spain in 1500 (some sources put his date of birth as early as 1497) from a family of hidalgos.

The expedition

After the failure of the expedition of Diego de Almagro, Valdivia asked the governor of Peru permission to complete the conquest of the lands south of Peru (known as Nuevo Toledo).

The expedition was fraught with problems from the beginning. Valdivia had to sell the lands that were assigned to him to finance the expedition. All in all around 150 Spanish joined the expedition of Valdivia.

He followed the desert route of Atacama, the same route that Almagro had followed back to Peru. When they arrived at the valley of Copiapo, Chile, Valdivia took possession of the land in the name of the king.

Conquest of Chile

During the long and harrowing trip to the south, the natives, having already experienced the incursions of the Spaniards, burned their crops and drove off their livestock, leaving nothing for Valdivia’s band and the animals which accompanied them.

In December of 1540, eleven months after they left Cuzco, Valdivia and his band reached the valley of the Mapocho river, where Valdivia was to establish the capital of the territory. Soon after their arrival, Valdivia tried to convince the natives of his good intentions, sending out delegations bearing gifts for the caciques.

Founding of Santiago

The natives kept the gifts but, united under the leadership of Michimalonco, attacked the Spaniards and were on the point of overwhelming them.

On February 12, 1541 Pedro de Valdivia officially dedicated the city. One of the first orders Valdivia gave was to search for gold in the Marga Marga mines and to develop a courier service to Peru.

First Destruction of Santiago

After a peaceful period of coexistence, local Indians led by Michimalonco attacked the new village of Santiago, on September 11, 1541.

This event meant a substantial setback for the conquest of the Chilean territory, since rebuilding could start only in 1543, with the arrival of new supplies.

New initiatives

In September of 1543 new arms, clothes and other equipment arrived from Peru on the ship Santiaguillo. Valdivia then sent an expedition north, led by Juan Bohon.

In February of 1546 Valdivia, accompanied by 70 men, traveled south.

In 1547 and 1548 Valdivia was in Peru to gather more resources and men.

Between 1549 and 1553, Valdivia again undertook the conquest of southern Chile, but faced heavy resistance from the indigenous Indians. He later founded the more southern villages of La Imperial, Valdivia, Chile and Villarica, Chile among others.

The uprising of 1553

After a brief stay in Santiago, Valdivia returned to the south again in December of 1552. To keep the connection open between Concepción and the southern settlements Valdivia had a number of forts built in the coastal mountain range. Valdivia decided to personally inspect the fort, but the indigenous forces attacked when the party was near the fort and Valdivia was captured. The Battle of Tucapel would be Valdivia's last: the dreaded conquistador was captured by Native Americans and executed by pouring molten gold down his throat to satisfy his thirst for treasures.

His career and death are part of the epic poem La Araucana by Alonso de Ercilla.