Juan de Salazar de Espinosa
Juan de Salazar y Espinosa (* 1508 in Espinosa de los Monteros, † 1560 in Asunción ) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer in the area of the Río de la Plata.
Life
In 1535, Juan de Salazar y Espinosa left at the age of 27 years, Spain with a ship from Sanlúcar de Barrameda from; arrived at the Río de la Plata, he headed initiated by the Adelantado Pedro de Mendoza search operation after a previous expedition under the command of Juan de Ayolas. This had left the others at Fort Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire, ie near the present city of Buenos Aires to explore the rivers Paraná and Paraguay - in the hope of a communication path between the western province situated on New Toledo ( Peru and Bolivia) on the one hand and the Province of New Andalusia to find the other. In their search came the expedition - probably also researching for the legendary 'White King ' ( rey blanco ) undertook - more and more north. On August 15, 1537, Juan de Salazar y Espinosa founded the fort and the settlement of Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción on the banks of the great Paraguay River, from which the later capital of Paraguay, Asuncion, should emerge. Although he found some members of the previous expedition, but their leader Juan de Ayolas, was killed by Indians in the territory of the Gran Chaco.
In 1538, Juan de Salazar y Espinosa mayor ( alcalde ) of the new settlement was chosen; three years later, on 16 September 1541 Asunción received from Charles V. the town charter and another year later he was himself ( officially? ) the title of Governor. In 1544, he was ordered back for taking part in a rebellion against the Adelantado Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca to Spain, but returned as a royal treasurer in 1547 back to the Río de la Plata. Three years later, he led a large colonial expedition in the area of the river Paraguay, which lasted until 1555.
Juan de Salazar y Espinosa died five years later at the age of 52 years in the city of Asunción was founded by himself.