Rodrigo de Quiroga
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Adelantado Rodrigo de Quiroga |
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|---|---|
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| Royal Governor of Chile | |
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In office 1565–1567 |
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| Monarch | Philip II |
| Preceded by | Pedro de Villagra |
| Succeeded by | Real Audiencia |
| Royal Governor of Chile | |
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In office 1575–1580 |
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| Monarch | Philip II |
| Preceded by | Melchor Bravo de Saravia |
| Succeeded by | Martín Ruiz de Gamboa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c.1512 San Juan de Boime, Spain |
| Died | February 20, 1580 (aged 67–68) Santiago, Chile |
| Spouse(s) | Inés de Suárez |
| Religion | Catholic |
Rodrigo de Quiroga López de Ulloa (c. 1512 – February 20, 1580) was a Spanish conquistador of Galician origin. He was twice the Royal Governor of Chile.
He was the son of Hernado Camba de Quiroga and of María López de Ulloa. In the year 1535 he traveled to Peru and participated in the exploration of Gran Chaco in the expedition of Diego de Rojas. A year later, he accompanied a group led by the conquistador Francisco de Aguirre as they made their way to Chile. This group met up with Pedro de Valdivia in Atacama.
Quiroga participated in the military actions of the conquest of Chile, during the first part of the War of Arauco, coming to be one of the most important captains of the district. From 1548 he held a number of important posts in the administration in Santiago. Three times he was mayor, amongst other duties.
He married Inés de Suárez, the famous mistress of Pedro de Valdivia, when the Viceroy of Peru at the time ordered that Valdivia end the scandalous relationship or face excommunication.
At the death of Valdivia at the hands of the Mapuches at the Battle of Tucapel, the citizens of southern Chile followed the instructions of his will and announced Francisco de Villagra as their leader. However, in Santiago, the ruling cabildo ignored these recommendations and proclaimed Quiroga as governor. It was thus that there were for a time two governors in Chile: Villagra in the south and Quiroga in the north. The situation ended upon the return of Villagra from the southern war zone to reclaim his right to govern. The cabildo awarded him this right and obliged Quiroga to relinquish his power, which Quiroga grudgingly did.
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