Martín Ruiz de Gamboa
| Martín Ruiz de Gamboa | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Royal Governor of Chile | |
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In office 1580–1583 |
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| Monarch | King Philip II |
| Preceded by | Rodrigo de Quiroga |
| Succeeded by | Alonso de Sotomayor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1533 Durango, Biscay, Spain |
| Died | 1590 (aged 56–57) Santiago, Chile |
| Spouse(s) | Isabel de Quiroga |
| Religion | Catholic |
Martín Ruiz de Gamboa de Berriz (1533 – 1590) was a Spanish Basque conquistador, and served as a Royal Governor of Chile.
He was born in Durango, Biscay, the son of Andrés Ruiz de Gamboa and Nafarra de Berriz, and served as a youth in the royal navy in the Levant. Before the age of 18, he traveled to Peru, eventually arriving in Chile in 1552.
Remaining in the area, he would participate in the Arauco War, being named in 1565 the lieutenant general for the governor at the time Rodrigo de Quiroga, with whom he had familial ties after marrying his daughter Isabel de Quiroga.
He achieved the conquest of the island of Chiloé by subduing the docile Cuncos Indians. He named the island New Galicia, and on November 12, 1567, founded the city of Santiago de Castro there. He was governor of Chiloé, and in 1568 Melchor Bravo de Saravia named him general and chief justice of Arauco and Tucapel.
Given his experience in the Arauco War, the Real Audiencia entrusted him with the direction of the war. However, in 1569 he suffered a complete defeat in the Battle of Catirai, losing his encomienda and suffering a marginalization from public life.
He returned to prominence when Rodrigo de Quiroga received his second mandate. Because of the sickness of the governor, Gamboa was again entrusted with the leadership of the war effort. In 1577, Quiroga named Gamboa his successor in his will, and just before his death, made him interim governor. All this was allowed because of privileges granted by the king at the time, Philip II of Spain.
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