Alvarado

Alvarado, PEDRO DE, a famous comrade of Cortes, was born at Badajoz, towards the close of the 15th century. In 1518 he sailed for the New World, and accompanied Grijalva in his exploring voyage along the shores of the American continent. It was now that the Spaniards heard for the first time of the riches of Montezuma, and of his vast empire. Alvarado was soon sent back to Cuba to inform the governor Velasquez of the result of the expedition. In February 1519 he sailed with Cortes and his little band of heroes from Havana, and took an active part in all the incidents of the conquest of Mexico. He held the city of Mexico during the absence of his chief, and massacred in the midst of a fête a great number of disaffected Aztec nobles. In the famous night-retreat of 1st July 1520 (la noche triste), Alvarado commanded the rear-guard, and covered himself with glory by his reckless courage. After the conquest of Mexico he subdued, with a small force, the tribes on the coast of the Pacific in the direction of Guatemala. On his return to Spain, the Emperor Charles V. gave him a splendid reception, and appointed him governor of Guatemala. Numerous adventurers followed him to the New World, and Alvarado soon embarked on the Pacific a force of five hundred soldiers for the capture of Quito. He landed near Cape San Francisco, whence he penetrated into the heart of the country, crossing the Andes by a daring march. In the interior he was met by some of the troops of Pizarro, headed by Almagro; but, chivalrously disclaiming any intention to interfere with his countryman's rights, he agreed to retire, on receiving an indemnity for his arduous undertaking. On his next visit to Spain, he cleared himself from the misrepresentations of Pizarro with such success that he received the government of Honduras in addition to Guatemala. Again he embarked for the New World, and pursued his course of discovery and conquest; but, having landed on the Mexican coast to aid the Spaniards in punishing a revolt of the Chichimecas of New Galicia, met his death through accident in 1541.