Pedro De Valdivia | Spanish Conqueror - Britannica

Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos Pedro de Valdivia Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Images Contents Politics, Law & Government World Leaders Governors

Pedro de Valdivia Spanish conqueror Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pedro-de-Valdivia Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

• Fact Monster - People - Biography of Pedro de Valdivia

Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot

Pedro de Valdivia (born c. 1498, Extremadura, Spain—died January 1554, Tucapel, Viceroyalty of Peru [now in Chile]) was a conqueror and governor of Chile for Spain and founder of the cities of Santiago and Concepción.

Quick Facts Born: c. 1498, Extremadura, Spain (Show more) Died: January 1554, Tucapel, Viceroyalty of Peru [now in Chile] (Show more) Title / Office: governor (1549-1554), Chile (Show more) Founder: Santiago (Show more) Role In: Araucanian wars (Show more) See all related content

Valdivia served with distinction in the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders before being sent to South America in 1534. During the Peruvian civil war (1538), he fought with Francisco Pizarro against Diego de Almagro. For the Chilean expedition, Valdivia took charge (1540) of a force of 150 Spaniards (including his mistress, Inés Suárez) and some Indian allies. He marched across the coastal desert of northern Chile, defeated a large force of Indians in the valley of Chile, and, on Feb. 12, 1541, founded Santiago. In 1546 he extended Spanish rule south to the Biobío River. After fighting in Peru for two years, Valdivia returned to Chile as governor. In 1550 he began to conquer Chile south of the Biobío and founded the city of Concepción. In the course of a campaign directed against the Araucanian Indians, Valdivia was captured and executed by Lautaro, a Mapuche Indian who led the native uprising against the Spanish conquerors.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.