What’s in a Name? Pedro de Valdivia

Names of cities, buildings, and streets can give you a glimpse into a region’s past. Why was a town in southern Chile given the English name, Cochrane? How did Pedro Montt become immortalized in street names across the country? And who was the man behind the naming of Valdivia?

The life of that man, Pedro de Valdivia, characterizes all that was good, bad, and ugly (mostly the latter two) during the early years of the Spanish conquest in South America.

The classic hidalgo:

Valdivia’s life began in western Spain at the turn of the sixteenth century. Born into a family of inherited nobility but no money – the classic hidalgo – he joined the Spanish army at an early age. His military travels took him to Venezuela in 1535, and from there to Peru a year later.

Military and amorous intrigue in Peru:

In Peru, Valdivia became Francisco Pizarro’s second-in-command, fighting with the conquistador against Spanish insurrectionists. For his loyalty, he received a lucrative silver mine, making him a wealthy man. Although Valdivia had married back in Spain, around this time he took up with a widow, Inés de Suárez. Born in the same region of Spain as Valdivia, Inés had sailed to South America in search of her conquistador husband, who apparently died at sea. As his widow, she received a small plot of land in Cuzco.

On to Chile:

Bank of the Río Valdivia

Not content to enjoy his new-found wealth, in 1540 Valdivia received permission from Pizarro to settle today’s Chile. Defying authority, he took along his feisty mistress, who was instrumental in saving his life in an attack by a rebellious partner and became the first European woman to set foot in Chile. A year later, Valdivia founded the city of Santiago. Yet even that wasn’t enough for him, and he pushed ever farther south, eventually reaching the mouth of today’s Río Valdivia.

Military and amorous obstructionism:

Ines defending Santiago

Unfortunately for Valdivia, the Mapuche Indians of Chile proved far fiercer than the Indians in Peru. Highly distrustful of the Spaniards after cruel experiences with earlier conquistadors, they joined together to stymie colonization plans. During Valdivia’s absence, they attacked Santiago, and, but for the heroic efforts of Inés, would have completely destroyed the city. Meanwhile, the higher-ups gave Valdivia an ultimatum – bring his wife over from Spain and marry off his mistress if he wanted to become the official governor of Chile. He agreed.

No matter how you look at it, a grisly death:

Before Valdivia’s wife reached the New World, he was dead. The Mapuches, furious with the settlements Valdivia had established in their territory and helped by their compatriot Lautaro, former servant of Valdivia, they captured the conquistador on Christmas Day, 1553. Though no Spaniards survived to witness the execution, many legends grew up – Valdivia was hit on the head with a war club; beaten to death with sticks; killed with a lance and beheaded; tied to a stake, with molten gold poured down his throat to discourage future gold seekers; had his arms cut off, roasted, and eaten before being killed. Yikes.

What happened to Inés?

After her marriage to a Spanish captain (and future governor) at the ripe age of 42, Inés led a quiet life, devoted to family and charities, until her death in 1580.

Immortality:

Both Valdivia and Inés have been immortalized in literature over the centuries. Valdivia is a major character in La Araucana, an epic poem about the conquest of Chile by Alonso de Ercilla, and Isabel Allende wrote a biographical novel about Chile’s most famous female conquistador, titled Ines of My Soul (Inés de mi alma).