Rodrigo de Quiroga

Rodrigo de Quiroga y López de Ulloa (Tuiriz, Kingdom of Galicia, 1512 - Santiago de Chile, February 25, 1580) was a Spanish soldier and conquistador who was appointed Governor of Chile in two chances.

Biography until the death of Valdivia

Family origin and early years

He was the son of Hernando Camba de Quiroga and his wife María López de Ulloa. In 1535 he traveled to Peru and participated in the exploration of the Gran Chaco in the expedition of Diego de Rojas. Years later he arrived in Chile accompanying the group led by the conquistador Francisco de Aguirre who, along with Francisco de Villagra, joined Pedro de Valdivia in the Atacama.

Trusted Military

He participated in the military actions of the conquest of Chile, during the first part of the Arauco War, becoming one of the most important captains of the kingdom, he enjoyed the full confidence of Pedro de Valdivia. From 1548 he held various positions in the administration of Santiago. He mayor three times, alderman in perpetuity since 1550 and corregidor between 1550 and 1553.

He was given the hand of Inés Suárez, since Pedro de Valdivia was forced to leave it by order of Pedro de la Gasca at the request of Valdivia's enemies who had denounced him for having an extramarital affair. Quiroga would have no children with her, although he had a mestizo daughter before her marriage, Isabel de Quiroga.

A chronicler of the time described him this way: “He was a man of good stature, dark-haired face, black beard, from Cariaguileño, noble in condition, very generous, extremely friendly to the poor, and so God gave him she helped with what she did: her house was a hospital and an inn for all those who loved her” (Alonso de Góngora Marmolejo).

When Pedro de Valdivia died at Mapuche hands in the Battle of Tucapel, the cities of the south opened the will of the deceased and proclaimed Francisco de Villagra governor. Meanwhile, in Santiago, the council did not obey what was mandated by the will and proclaimed Rodrigo de Quiroga governor.

Thus, for some time there were two governors in Chile: Francisco de Villagra in the south and Quiroga in the north. This situation ended when Villagra returned from the war zone to claim his right to the governorship. The council granted him this right and forced Quiroga to hand over command, which he reluctantly did.

In 1565, the Viceroy sent reinforcements from Peru, under the command of General Jerónimo de Costilla. This general had orders to depose Francisco de Villagra, a protégé of the previous viceroy, and install Quiroga in the government. In these circumstances, the interim governed Pedro de Villagra, who was the brother of the incumbent, saw that his forces to fight for his position were few compared to those of Quiroga, surrendered and handed over command, to later be sent to Peru..

First government

This first government (the previous one does not count because it lacked real power), which lasted until 1567, was marked by constant confrontations with the indigenous people, from which it emerged victorious. He undertook a new campaign, organized by Lorenzo Bernal del Mercado. He rebuilt Cañete, repopulated Arauco, and conquered the island of Chiloé (which for a time would be called Nueva Galicia), with the founding of Castro and the pacification of the docile Cuncos of that island.

Despite these victories (which would prove to be very ineffective in the near future), the court did not recognize his merits and upon returning to the capital learned of the appointment of the Royal Audience, which would replace him in command. He then devoted himself temporarily to business.

In 1575, as a result of the failure of the Royal Court and the governor Melchor Bravo de Saravia, he was called for the second time to take charge (now owned) of the governorship. He was sworn in before the council in January 1575.

Second government of Chile

Hurtado de Mendoza, Villagra and Quiroga as illustrated by Alonso de Ovalle.

His second administration was more contentious than his first. Added to the war were pirate incursions, the two earthquakes of 1575, the conflict with Bishop San Miguel in the appointment of ecclesiastical posts and the lowering of priests' salaries, which earned him threats of excommunication.

Spain promised to send 500 reinforcement soldiers to definitively end the war, but only 300 arrived, of a much lower quality than expected and with practically no equipment. Overcoming these difficulties and his illness (he had to be carried in a chair on the battlefield), he carried out a new campaign against the Mapuches, led this time by the mestizo Alonso Díaz.

The Campaign had relative successes, which allowed it to face another threat, the appearance of the corsair Francis Drake on the Chilean coast, who sacked the port of Valparaíso, but when he tried to repeat his action in La Serena, he was met with resistance army of the inhabitants, who destroyed one of his men.

On December 16, 1575, an earthquake occurred that ruined the cities of La Imperial, Ciudad Rica (Villarrica), Osorno, Castro, and Valdivia. The earthquake demolished a hill, at the outlet of Lake Riñihue, clogging the drain and causing a large amount of water to accumulate, it overflowed and caused another disaster.

Death

His serious illness and his age prevented him from continuing to direct the war, entrusting it to his son-in-law Martín Ruiz de Gamboa. Bedridden by his ailments, he spent his last days consecrated to religious practices, surrounded by friars, to whose convents he bequeathed most of his property and died peacefully on February 25, 1580. His wife, also of advanced age, Inés Suárez, would die the same year.