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Alonso de Alvarado | |
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![]() Alonso de Alvarado | |
Born | 1500 |
Died | 1556 |
Nationality | Spanish |
Occupation | Conquistador |
Alonso de Alvarado Montaya González de Cevallos y Miranda (1500–1556) was a Spanish conquistador and knight of the Order of Santiago.
Born in Secadura de Trasmiera, Spain,[1]: 398 Alvarado served under Hernán Cortés in Mexico before joining Francisco Pizarro's campaign in Peru.
In 1534, he arrived in Peru with his uncle Pedro de Alvarado, seeking riches. He participated in several key battles during the conquest and subsequent civil wars (1537–1555), including the defense of Lima against Manco Inca Yupanqui's siege (1536), the Battle of Las Salinas (1538), and later conflicts at Chupas and Jaquijahuana.
While some contemporaries accused him of greed and brutality, Alvarado remained a loyal supporter of the Spanish crown throughout the Peruvian civil wars. He consistently sided with those he believed represented the crown's authority, even when such alliances proved risky or unprofitable.[2]
For instance, in 1537, he commanded Pizarro's forces against Diego de Almagro's claim on Cuzco. Although defeated and captured at the Battle of Abancay,[3]: 257 he escaped and rejoined Pizarro. He participated in subsequent conflicts as a prominent military leader, though not always achieving personal victories. Nonetheless, he held a high military position and was considered a pillar of the Spanish cause.[2]
Alvarado married during a brief visit to Spain in 1544.[2]
In 1553, when Francisco Hernández Girón rebelled, Alvarado led the royalist forces. However, he suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Chuquinga (1554). Dejected by this final setback, he fell ill and died.
His most significant achievement was the pacification of Chachapoyas in northeastern Peru (1535–1536). This conquest marked the first Spanish foray into the Amazon Basin from Peru.[2]