Once across, the conquistadors ransacked nearby settlements in an effort to terrorise the K'iche'. The earliest recorded appearance of the name is in the Título C'oyoi in which he is referred to as "nima rajpop achij adelantado Tecum umam rey k'iche' don k'iq'ab'." [19] In contrast to his popularity, he is at times rejected by Maya cultural activists who consider his status as a national hero a source of irony, considering the long history of mistreatment of Guatemala's native population. To fit the traditions of the Baile de los Moros, the role of the Moorish prince is replaced with that of Tecun Uman. According to the Kaqchikel annals, he was slain by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado while waging battle against the Spanish and their allies on the approach to Quetzaltenango on 12 February 1524. The glyph to the right of his head represents his Nahuatl name, Tonatiuh ("Sun"). Pedro de Alvarado. One piece of evidence to suggest he lived comes from a letter written by Alvarado to Hernán Cortés. Pedro de Alvarado was born in 1485 in the town of Badajoz, Extremadura. After the Spanish conquest of central Mexico, expeditions were sent further northward in Mesoamerica, to the … [6] Alvarado then turned to head upriver into the Sierra Madre mountains towards the K'iche' heartlands, crossing the pass into the fertile valley of Quetzaltenango. Tecun Uman[1] (1500? [13], It is believed that "Tecun Uman" was more than likely not the ruler's name at all but may have functioned as a sort of title. According to the Kaqchikel annals, he was slain by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado while waging battle against the Spanish and their allies on the approach to Quetzaltenango on 12 February 1524. Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras (born Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain, ca. Matthew 2012, pp. Pedro de Al­varado y Contreras (Bada­joz, Ex­tremadura, Spain, ca. The cavalry scattered the K'iche' and the army crossed to the city of Xelaju (modern Quetzaltenango) only to find it deserted. Pedro de Alvarado, (born c. 1485, Badajoz, Castile [Spain]—died 1541, in or near Guadalajara, New Spain [now in Mexico]), Spanish conquistador who helped conquer Mexico and Central America for Spain in the 16th century. Alvaradowent to the region of Mexico to help the Spanish during the Mixton War. At the time of his death, he still held Sacatepéquez and Ostuncalco in encomienda. The K'iche' prince's nahual, filled with grief, landed on the fallen hero's chest, staining its breast feathers red with blood, and thereafter died. Ignore the dates and places of birth and death of Diego de Alvarado, as well as almost all aspects of his biography. This document also contains the earliest known reference to the K'iche' leader as Tecum Umam. "[15] Alvarado did not provide a name for the K'iche' general; nor did he mention how or by whose hand the man was killed. He acted as Cortes's principal officer, and on the first occupation of the city of Mexico was left there in charge. Animal Diversity - The Resplendent Quetzal, Authentic Maya: Tecun Uman, Pedro de Alvarado, and the Virgin Mary, Tecum Umam: ¿Personaje Mítico o Histórico? Tecun Uman called upon his own magic, and in the intention of killing Alvarado, struck Alvarado's horse dead. Pedro had 7 siblings: Gavena Alvarado, Daniel Alvarado and 5 other siblings. [7] Although the common view is that the K'iche' prince Tecun Uman died in the later battle near Olintepeque, the Spanish accounts are clear that at least one and possibly two of the lords of Q'umarkaj died in the fierce battles upon the initial approach to Quetzaltenango. From that day on, all male quetzals bear a scarlet breast and their song has not been heard since. Alvarado was clad in armor and mounted on his warhorse. He went to Hispaniola (1510), sailed in the expedition (1518) of Juan de Grijalva, and was the chief lieutenant of Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico. Career Expeditions with Pedro de Alvarado. When the Spaniards had temporarily to retire before the Mexican uprising, Alvarado led the rear-guard (1st of July 1520), and the Salto de Alvarado -- a long leap with the use of his spear, by which he saved his life -- became famous. 78-79. He passed away from the injuries on July 4, 1541. Other natives had attempted to kill Alvarado, but he was protected by a powerful maiden, commonly associated with the Virgin Mary. Born: c. 1495Birthplace: Badajoz, Castile, SpainDied: 4-Jul-1541Location of death: Nochistlan Peak, MexicoCause of death: Accident - Fall, Gender: MaleReligion: Roman CatholicRace or Ethnicity: WhiteOccupation: Military, Nationality: SpainExecutive summary: Spanish conqueror of Americas. Pedro de Alvarado's mother was Diego's second wife, Leonor de Contreras y Gutiérrez de Trejo. Pedro de Alvarado has the distinction of … In February 1519 he accompanied Hernando Cortes in the expedition for the conquest of Mexico, being appointed to the command of one of the eleven vessels of the fleet. This is all tied together by the genealogy of the K'iche' lords that is given near the end of the Popul Vuh and a section of the Título de Totonicapan, which both refer to the son of the Keeper of the Mat as "Tecum" at the time of Alvarado's arrival. Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras (Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain, ca. Pedro Alvarado in 1930 United States Federal Census Pedro Alvarado was born circa 1921, at birth place, Texas, to Francesco Alvarado and Elvera V Alvarado. [citation needed], A second explanation for the absence of greater detail in Alvarado's letter is that Tecun Uman actually did battle with one of Alvarado's subordinates, by the name of Argueta. Recinos 1952, 1986, p. 65. [13] This theory is generally given little credence, in light of the observation that such documents as the Título K'oyoi appeared long before the first performances of the Baile de la Conquista. He was buried at the Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala cathedral. Tecun Uman quickly realized his error and turned for a second attack but Alvarado's thrust his spear into his opponent's heart. A. Pedro de Alvarado. His first … Died: 1541, in or near Guadalajara, New Spain (Mexico) Spouse (s): Francisca de la Cueva, Beatriz de la Cueva. Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras (Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain, ca. This region formed a part of the K'iche' kingdom, and a K'iche' army tried unsuccessfully to prevent the Spanish from crossing the river. However, the letter is quite sparing in details, with Alvarado only mentioning of the battle that ensued: "in this affair one of the four chiefs of the city of Utatlán was killed, who was the captain general of all this country. The sun glyph of Tonatiuh is joined to him. While he was gone, Pedro de Alvarado was left in charge of the Spanish’s mission in Tenochtitlan. During the Spanish Conquest in the sixteenth Century, the Aztecs referred to the Spanish explorer and conquistador Pedro de Alvarado as Tonatiuh. Don Pedro de Alvarado : a portrait and images depicting his armor and death. [11], Another account claims a much more complex confrontation of religious and material forces. Gall 1967, p. 41. [9], The legends relate that Tecun Uman entered battle adorned with precious quetzal feathers, and that his nahual (animal spirit guide), also a quetzal bird, accompanied him during the battle. Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 764. As horses were not native to the Americas and peoples of Mesoamerica had no beasts of burden of their own, Tecun Uman assumed they were one being and killed Alvarado's horse. Cousin, Spanish conquistador of the conquistadors Pedro and Jorge de Alvarado. Pedro de Alvarado was a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of much of Central America [13], Local folklore from the area around the former K'iche' capital of Q'umarkaj preserves the belief that he was buried at the small archaeological site of Atalaya, 600 metres (660 yd) from Q'umarkaj itself. Another version says he merely attacked the horse in an attempt to knock Alvarado down, having no prior illusion that both man and animal to be one and the same. In 1522 Hernán Cortés sent Mexican allies to scout the Soconusco region of lowland Chiapas, where they met delegations from Iximche and Q'umarkaj at Tuxpán;[2] both of the powerful highland Maya kingdoms declared their loyalty to the king of Spain. [14], The true existence of a historical Tecun Uman is subject of ongoing debate. Portocarrero died "of old age" before 1539. Do you know something we don't? Pedro de Portocarrero married Alvarado's daughter Leanor, probably in early 1536. 1495, died Guadalajara, New Spain, 4 July 1541) was a Spanish conquistador and governor of Guatemala. The prodigy of the successful conquest of Guatemala and the Maya region showed the might of the Spanish conquistadors under a ruthless battle leader, Pedro de Alvarado. The Spanish colonization and the problems and resistance they faced, how they established a colony and joined it to the Vice Royalty of New Spain. [3] But Cortés' allies in Soconusco soon informed him that the K'iche' and the Kaqchikel were not loyal, and were instead harassing Spain's allies in the region. Tecun Uman has inspired a wide variety of activities ranging from the production of statues and poetry to the retelling of the legend in the form of folkloric dances to prayers. Although suffering many injuries inflicted by defending K'iche' archers, the Spanish and their allies stormed the town and set up camp in the marketplace. It has been suggested that "umam" may have been a reference to his genealogy, or the name may have originally been derived from another title given to the hero, "q'uq'umam", meaning "ancient one of quetzal feathers", or it might have come from the indigenous name for a prominent local volcano: "Teyocuman. During a visit to Spain, three years later, he had the governorship of Honduras conferred upon him in addition to that of Guatemala. The first-born son of the Keeper of the Mat (the most powerful of the lords) was expected to prove himself by leading the K'iche' army and was given the title "nima rajpop achij", the same title given to Tecun Uman in the Título K'oyoi. Nationality: Spain Executive summary: Spanish conqueror of … His actions led to the death of Montezuma.In 1524 Alvarado became governor and captain-general of Guatemala, and formed settlements on the coast of Honduras. Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 763. At great cost, he assembled and equipped 13 ships and approximately 550 soldiers for the expedition. Gender: Male Religion: Roman Catholic Race or Ethnicity: White Occupation: Military. Managed by: Private User Last Updated: December 9, 2016 [citation needed], A different version states Tecun Uman had an opportunity to kill Alvarado but ultimately failed and was slain by one of Alvarado's subordinates, a soldier known by the name of Argueta. During his time there, he was accidentally trampled by a horse. Several other indigenous documents describe the arrival of Alvarado in what would become Guatemala, including the Título C'oyoi which describes the battle in terms similar to the modern legend. Alvarado accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico (1519–21). On 12 February 1524 Alvarado's Mexican allies were ambushed in the pass and driven back by K'iche' warriors but the Spanish cavalry charge that followed was a shock for the K'iche', who had never before seen horses. Pedro de Alvarado: Birthdate: estimated between 1574 and 1634: Death: Immediate Family: Husband of Juana Muñoz Father of Isabel Muñoz de Alvarado and Juana Muñoz de Alvarado. The influence they had on the kingdoms they conquered, regarding culture and linguistics with much emphasis on linguistics. Marriage and death. One of the Spanish leaders in the discovery and conquest of America, born at Badajoz about 1495. Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras (Badajoz, Extremadura, Corona castellana, 1485 - Guadalajara, Virreinato de Nueva España, Imperio español, 4 de julio de 1541) fue un adelantado y conquistador español que participó en la conquista de Cuba, en la exploración por Juan de Grijalva del golfo de México y de las costas de Yucatán, y en la conquista del Imperio azteca dirigida por Hernán Cortés. (SPANISH), PALABRA VIRTUAL: Tecun Uman, Miguel Ángel Asturias, CULTURAL SURVIVAL: Guatemala - Everybody's Indian When the Occasion's Right, Sociedad de Geografía e Historia de Guatemala, Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tecun_Uman&oldid=982233116, 16th-century indigenous people of the Americas, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 October 2020, at 22:28. Pedro de Alvarado (Badajoz, c. 1495 - Guadalajara, Mexico, July 4, 1541), was one of the Spanish leaders in the discovery and conquest of America. He took part in the Invasions of the Aztecs, Maya and Inca. Alvarado developed a plan to outfit an armada that would sail from the western coast of Mexico to China and the Spice Islands. 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