MEN OF THE AMERICAN CONQUEST.
conquistadors who came to America came from the most diverse social strata.
Among them could be found from the noble title to commoners popular groups and villains.
The group of gentlemen (lower English nobility) also played an important role in the conquest of America, although in the case of Chile reached only about 20% of the quota for the early years.
As for the noble title is possible to say that only rare exceptions and participated in important administrative positions.
The most famous case in Chile for the Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, who served as governor from 1557 to 1561.
However, the group of commoners and villains majority was the establishment within the enterprise of conquest.
These were subjects who did not enjoy a good situation in Spain and hope to achieve in the conquest of America a possibility for social and economic development.
also participated in the conquest priests and lawyers. The priests who did so were not very numerous, but exercised great power by virtue of their nature and endowment.
The priests, in addition to fulfilling tasks own worship, performed administrative positions.
may seem odd, also involved in commercial activities and also sometimes took up arms against the Indians.
ORIGIN OF THE PATHFINDER.
English conquistadores came mostly from central and southern regions of the Iberian Peninsula, and to a lesser extent the north and east.
Thus, the hosts dominated the Andalusian and Castilian English. The prevalence of Andalusians are a number of reasons, including its geographical position and the presence of ports.
For Moreover, the economic crisis which hit the regions prompted many residents to choose the path of emigration to new lands, though it were an adventure.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CONQUEST.
conquest companies were organized according to the circumstances of each place.
Thus, not all groups had the same characteristics of formation and financing, and also differed according to the objectives pursued. There
companies that were designed to incorporate new territories. These are the most popular.
them was common in the capital is contributed by the leader of the expedition, but the current was that this should be associated with other individuals. Gains were spread
according to the contributions of each proportionally.
could also adopted the system in which the captain addressed only the issue and other partners providing the capital.
The conquest of Chile is financed in two ways. The final settlement was made with input from the Crown, through the Viceroyalty of Peru.
According to their objectives, shipments can be classified into:
a) CORPORATE RESCUE: the intention was to exchange with indigenous trinkets for gold or other precious objects.
b) COMPANIES Or ride INDIANS: Indians seize the objective was to sell as slaves (they were needed as laborers to work in mines or agricultural activities).
c) of conquest: it was definitely action to conquer a territory, on behalf of the Crown.
CAPTAIN AND ITS HOST.
The conquest of America was not done by a professional army, but rather by private groups were organized independently and received from the English Crown consent to incorporate new lands to the domination of the king of Spain.
Conquest, then, was a particular business and more private, in which the state intervened indirectly.
chief conqueror was an individual who, directly or indirectly received from the Crown authority and power.
On the one hand, the company should conduct itself (finance and organize). However, his freedom was not total: should stick to assurances which had been granted and the general instructions of the conquest. Commonly their rights and duties were laid down in Chapters.
Within this framework, the conqueror was still chief manor features: for example, lifelong condition and hereditary office, the right to build strengths and the performance of the company at his own expense. However, the monarchy retained sovereignty and regulated the process.
In relations between the captain and his host weighed, especially, the authority which he enjoyed, which depended on their prestige and their titles. CAPITAN
The word generally denotes any head of a task more or less numerous, and in practice was the only type of officer, with the exception of the field master, chosen by the conquering chief among soldiers. It was the second in command of the army.
Not all territories conquered by surrenders, but many were won over by captains had gained power in America and made their conquests with permission from other heads conquerors, who had already undergone a territory.
An example of that is the case of Pedro de Valdivia in Chile, who comes to our territory as Lieutenant Governor of Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of Peru.
In the absence of a "salary", the soldiers expected to make a profit in the company. These benefits are the captain gave his officers and peers, according to the merits of each.
urban prize was a "solar", ie a quarter of a block where the housing should be built benefited. Also rural possessions were delivered to produce food or raise livestock. They were also given awards of silver and gold mines. The need for labor to exploit the land or mines, was necessary to use Indian labor. Thus, another of the awards was the encomienda of Indians, through which indigenous workers provided the English conquistador who had excelled in service to the Crown.
CONQUEROR OF THE REASONS.
struggle for wealth: the desire for an immediate and abundant wealth seems to be present in all companies of the American conquest.
is significant that the conquest consolidate more rapidly in the wealthier regions of Mexico and Peru, where it formed large centers of economic activity, government administration and social life of the new continent.
In contrast, the conquest was slower in poor places like Mexico and failed, almost completely, economically unattractive areas such as Patagonia, Florida, Texas and others.
The pursuit of wealth was exposed in the chronicles of Bartolomé de Las Casas and Fernández de Oviedo, who deeply criticized the excessive interest of the conquerors. ASPIRATIONS
Stately were nobles and villains, the conquerors dreamed manor life with good income represented by the work of the Indians, land ownership, etc.
SERVICE TO GOD AND THE KING: From the outset, the task of evangelization worried the English crown, but the application of this work was defective. There is an ambivalence between the principles of religion and material aspirations. The desire for gold was not contradictory to the idea of \u200b\u200bevangelizing.
Thus, the conquest of a territory also meant the evangelization of their people. The English believed to play a divine mission in the fight against the infidels.
Moreover, convenient service to King conquerors, since the monarchy was the dispenser of all benefits, such as parcels, public officials and other royalties.
Individualism and personal glory: the mentality of many of the conquerors reflects a renaissance spirit represented on individualism and the pursuit of success. In the particular case of the conquest of Chile, this is expressed in the words of Valdivia to Charles V, in which he stated that his presence in our territory is due, in part because it wants to "let himself famous."
CONQUEST EXPANSION AND LIGHTS.
The conquest of America was a task of great magnitude, it took years to materialize. This because it was an unknown continent and much larger than the continent of Europe.
Thus, the conquest of America was a slow process, which ran from outbreaks expansive (often newly founded cities) and extended thanks to the geographical knowledge had accumulated to the information given by the Indians themselves, and largely due to the desire for wealth of the conquerors.
The initial settlement was established in Cuba, a country which had arrived in Columbus on his first voyage.
At this stage, the foundation of cities played a major role. They were concentrating the English and made the dress rehearsals for the occupation of the new continent. Economic systems were tested, methods of farming and production and even administrative functions.
From the newly founded cities were projecting below are new missions, which resulted in gradual knowledge across the continent.
From The English were the first surveys to neighboring areas such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. After the conquest of Cuba, it became one of the gateways to the continent and the place from which to sail a series of expeditions that would result in the occupation the mainland.
Among the latter, should be mentioned for their importance Nicuesa Diego and Alonso de Ojeda, which resulted in the recognition of the Isthmus of Panama, founded the city of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua del Darién, which became another foci of expansion.
from Cuba in 1519 left the expedition of Hernán Cortés, which resulted in the discovery and conquest of the Aztec Empire extraordinary.
The establishment of the English in Panama has arranged from other expeditions there. One of them bore fruit with the discovery and conquest of Peru. This important business was conducted by Francisco Pizarro, who had gone to America in 1509. He was accompanied on his journey, as partners, the priest Hernando de Luque, and another important figure in the history of Chile: Diego de Almagro.
Between 1524 and 1525 he began a land expedition, supported by ships that sailed along the coastline. Following difficult experiences, the Indian attack, disease and desertion of the soldiers were able to perceive the magnitude of his discovery: the Inca Empire.
Back to Panama, Pizarro decided to leave for Spain to seek better conditions for the conquest of new lands. In 1531 the expedition was organized final, which took first knock down and then, in a fast-moving area of \u200b\u200bCajamarca, where he captured the Inca ruler, Atahualpa (1532).
was formed and a new art in the heart of South America, from which the conquest continued. Lima was founded in 1535 and later Arequipa, cities, along with Cuzco, fed the armies of conquerors who continued moving through territory unknown. EXPEDITION
Diego de Almagro.
The conquest of Chile was a direct result of English settlement in Peru, which has become a dynamic center of expansion.
Problems arising between Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of the Inca Empire, and Diego de Almagro, his partner drove him to conquer the South, accompanied by at least helped in the conquest of Peru.
About ten thousand men, most Indian allies, about four hundred English and blacks formed the expedition that departed from Cuzco in July 1535. The path followed was that of the highlands, the Andes and down into the valley of Copiapo through the passage of San Francisco. It was a long and painful journey, which claimed many lives and caused great material losses.
Finally, the survivors made their center Operating in the Aconcagua Valley. From that point, several expeditions went to visit the territory. One of them, near the river Itata, confronted for the first time with in the Arauca Reinohuelén combat.
Soon, the lack of gold in the desired quantities and the presence of indigenous bellicose and difficult to subdue, became the main and most immediate causes of the disappointment of these English.
This was determined to return to Peru, through the coastal desert. In the early months of 1537 the army reached the outskirts of the city of Cuzco.
Opposition between the sides of Pizarro and Almagro was accentuated by his return. After the battle of Las Salinas (April 1538), the failed conqueror of Chile was executed by his enemies.
EXPEDITION OF PEDRO DE VALDIVIA AND CONQUEST OF CHILE
After the defeat of Almagro and the sad memories left by his foray south of the Inca Empire, it was surprising the request made by Pedro de Valdivia in order to be allowed to conquer territory of Chile.
Valdivia was a prestigious military held the rank of Maestre de Campo. In Peru had achieved a good financial position and merit earned him the respect of his superiors. It combines the cluster of motivations that characterized, in one way or another, the English conquistador. Valdivia wanted, above all, cover of fame and glory. This was one of the main reasons that led your company.
In some months, he obtained the necessary funding and organized a small expedition, consisting only of ten men and a woman, Ines Suarez.
The route followed by Pedro de Valdivia was the Atacama Desert, to reach the valley of the Mapocho. The goodness of the land and climate, coupled with the abundance of indigenous, urged him to stay.
Thus, the February 12, 1541 provided for the foundation Santiago. The city was laid with center Plaza de Armas, surrounded by lots that housed the English population.
Less than a month later he was a council, a former English body responsible for the administration of justice and to perform functions edilicias. This council is mandated to appoint himself governor of Chile at Valdivia.
Soon the city was designed as the core of the defense, administrative and ecclesiastical. Apart from the urban sector, Santiago comprised the vast tracts of surrounding land. His conquerors, therefore, could receive various rewards: a lot, a farm stay or a farm. The distribution of land was called land grant. Was granted on the basis of merit and services was a graceful and perpetual benefit.
However, in September 1541 a surprise attack led by Michimalonco Indians left in ruins the booming city. Only the aid sent by Peru made it possible to save the situation and continue the process of conquest: in 1544 he founded the city of La Serena in 1550, Concepción, in 1541, La Imperial, Valdivia and Villarrica in 1552, Angola in 1553 . Another way of progress constituted the foundation of strong, such as Copiapo (1545), Arauco and Puren (1553), in the territories conflicting.
