Alonso de Ribera
|
Don Alonso de Ribera Caballero de Santiago |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Royal Governor of Chile | |
|
In office 1612–1617 |
|
| Monarch | Philip III |
| Prime Minister | Duke of Lerma |
| Preceded by | Juan Jaraquemada |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Talaverano |
| Royal Governor of Chile | |
|
In office 1601–1605 |
|
| Monarch | Philip III |
| Prime Minister | Duke of Lerma |
| Preceded by | Alonso García de Ramón |
| Succeeded by | Alonso García de Ramón |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1560 Úbeda, Spain |
| Died | March 9, 1617 (aged 56–57) Concepción, Chile |
| Spouse(s) | Inés de Córdoba |
| Profession | Brigadier General |
| Religion | Catholic |
Alonso de Ribera de Pareja (1560 – March 9, 1617) was a Spanish soldier and twice Spanish royal governor of Chile (1601–1605 and 1612–1617).
Born in Úbeda, he was the illegitimate son of hidalgo and captain Jorge de Ribera Zambrana y Dávalos, who claimed descent from the kings of Aragon.
After studying mathematics, Ribera joined the Spanish army in Flanders. It was the beginning of a long and successful military career. He fought in various battles in France with Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. In addition, he was part of the Spanish Armada of 1588, and one of the followers of Cardinal Archduke Alberto, governor of the Netherlands.
His distinguished military service came to the attention of King Philip III. In 1599 the king named him governor and captain general of Chile, positions that he occupied from 1601 to 1605 and again from 1612 to 1617.
The 1598 Disaster of Curalaba, in which the Spanish governor of Chile, Martín García Óñez de Loyola was killed in a surprise attack by Mapuche Indians in southern Chile, had led to the abandonment of the cities of Santa Cruz de Óñez, La Imperial, Valdivia, Osorno, Angol, Villarrica, and all the other Spanish positions south of the Biobío River. Even Chillán was temporarily depopulated, and the fort of Arauco and Concepción were besieged by Mapuches under Pelantaru.
The Spanish defense of the colony consisted mostly of a citizen militia, not considered adequate by the authorities. With the aim of improving the army, they wanted a governor with military experience. It was for this reason that Alonso de Ribera received the appointment, with the mandate of organizing a professional army.
...
Wikipedia