Nicolás de Ovando y Cáceres

Nicolás de Ovando
3rd Governor of the Indies
In office September 3, 1501 – 1509
Appointed by	Isabella I of Castile
Preceded by	Francisco de Bobadilla
Succeeded by	Diego Columbus
Personal details
Born	1460 Brozas, Extremadura, Spain
Died	29 May 1511 (aged 50-51) Madrid, Spain
Resting place	Church of San Benito de Alcántara

Fray Nicolás de Ovando y Cáceres (Brozas, Extremadura, 1460 – Madrid, 29 May 1511) was a Spanish soldier from a noble family and a Knight of the Order of Alcántara. He was Governor of the Indies (Hispaniola) from 1502 until 1509. His administration is perhaps best known for its brutal treatment of the native Taíno population of Hispaniola.

Nicolás Ovando y Cáceres was born in Brozas in 1460. Born into a noble and pious family, second son of Diego Fernández de Cáceres y Ovando, 1st Lord of the Manor House del Alcázar Viejo, and his first wife Isabel Flores de las Varillas (a distant relative of Hernán Cortés), Ovando entered the military Order of Alcántara, where he became a Master (Mestre or Maitre) or a Commander-Major (Comendador-Mayor). This Spanish military order, founded in 1156, resembled the Order of Templars, with whom it fought the Moors during the Reconquista. His elder brother was Diego de Cáceres y Ovando.

As Commander of Lares de Guahaba Ovando became a favorite of the Spanish Catholic Monarchs, particularly of the pious Queen Isabella I. Thus, in response to complaints from Christopher Columbus and others about Francisco de Bobadilla the Spanish monarch on September 3, 1501, appointed Ovando to replace Bobadilla. Ovando become the third Governor and Captain-General of the Indies, Islands and Firm-Land of the Ocean Sea.

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