Melchor Bravo de Saravia
Melchor Bravo de Saravia y Soto Mayor ( * 1512 - according to other sources 1497 - in Soria, Spain, † December 8, 1577 in Soria ) was a Spanish judge and colonial administrator. He officiated as interim viceroy of Peru and as a Spanish governor in Chile.
Background and education
About the year of birth is no consensus among historians: José Toribio Medina called 1512, while Diego Barros Arana points to 1497.
During his youth, Bravo has studied law, later records and his gravestone identify him as " doctor". In the service of the Spanish crown, he served first as an administrative judge of Naples.
On the Real Audiencia of Lima
1547 appointed him king Charles V Oidor the new Real Audiencia, which he had set up in the Kingdom of New Granada and sent it into today's Peru. During his tenure, the revolt of Francisco Hernández Girón (1552-1557), who brought the royal administration in South America to the brink of collapse fell. During this time he served as interim viceroy of Peru. Bravo distinguished himself in the suppression of the uprising, also as a prudent commander.
Term as governor of Chile
As in 1565, the Real Audiencia of Chile was established in Concepión, ruled the four Oidores, who were appointed by King Philip II to Chile, the colony. 1567 the king decided that he wanted to leave any committee of four persons, the colonial administration, so he instead began a governor as the responsible representative of the Crown. This office he transferred Melchor Bravo de Saravia.
In July 1568 Bravo reached with his family and entourage of Peru coming to the port of La Serena. There he left his family and went despite his age on horseback on the long and arduous journey to Santiago de Chile, where he arrived on August 16, 1568.
The population hoped for by the Governor and the reinforcements that he brought with him, especially one end of the forces and resource -consuming war with the locals. With the beginning of spring, in September 1568, he set out with his army of santiago on the way and reached Concepción in November. At first he hoped to subdue the Indians peacefully, but the natives defended themselves by force of arms against the proselytizing and pacification attempts by the Spaniards. As a result Bravo launched another attempt to subdue the locals at gunpoint.
In January 1569, the Spaniards suffered under the command of Martín Ruiz de Gamboa in the fight with the Indians at the Battle of Catirai a crushing and demoralizing defeat. Bravo tried to bring his troops, supplies for the beleaguered Spaniards. As a result, the Europeans, the fortified settlements of Canete and Arauco had to give up again. Beaten, the troops marched to the Governor Bravo de Saravia back to the coast and reached the end of March 1569 again Concepción.
Bravo asked the king for more reinforcements for the colony and offered, given his lack of military successes to his replacement.
On February 8, 1570, a major earthquake rocked Concepcion. The tsunami reached the city until late some time, so that time was enough to bring the residents to safety. The buildings and fortifications of the city but were destroyed to a great extent.
Towards the end of colonial troops arrived fresh from Lima in Chile, and Bravo took another campaign to subjugate the Mapuche. Again, the Spaniards were unsuccessful, the Indians surprised the conquistadors in Purén, Bravo sent support troops under the command of his son Ramón, but who could not align.
1571 fell under the tenure Bravos the establishment of the Diocese of La Imperial. Soon after work began on the construction of the Church of San Francisco, she is now the oldest surviving building in Santiago.
Criticism and detachment
The clergy criticized the system of forced labor to which the natives were forced into the mines of Chile. 1572 Philip II changed the delivery system to a control system. Even the official guide Melchor Bravo was criticized by church officials at the Spanish court. The governor is incapable not listen to the advice of experienced military men, he also was corrupt and would enrich family members and friends, so the allegations.
Bravo asked again, given the continuing military defeats and criticism of his administration to his dismissal. 1573 corresponded to the king his request, and in 1575 returned Melchor Bravo de Saravia back to Europe. Two years later he died in his hometown, where he is also buried.