Pedro De Valdivia

Place: Villanueva De La Serena

Born: 1497

Death: 1553

Biography:

Pedro de Valdivia was a Spanish conquistador and the first royal governor of Chile. He served with the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders before being sent to South America in 1534, where he served as lieutenant under Francisco Pizarro in Peru. In 1540, he led an expedition into Chile, defeating indigenous warriors and founding Santiago in 1541. He extended Spanish rule south to the Biobío River in 1546, fought again in Peru (1546–1548), and returned to Chile as governor in 1549. He began to colonize Chile south of the Biobío and founded Concepción in 1550. He was captured and killed by Mapuche Indians during the Arauco War in 1553.