Pedro de la Gasca
Pedro de la Gasca (* 1494 in Navarregadilla, Ávila, Spain, † November 13, 1567 in Siguenza, Spain) was a Spanish bishop, diplomat and the Viceroy of Peru.
Biography
De la Gasca studied first at the University of Salamanca and later at the University of Alcalá and became known for his high intellect. He was trained as priests and lawyers. 1522 joined de la Gasca by the Spanish army. In 1542, he was for King and Emperor Charles V. negotiator in a dispute between the Pope Paul III. and the English king Henry VIII, a task that required a lot of knowledge and intuition.
In May 1546 de la Gasca was sent to South America. Gonzalo Pizarro had Blasco Núñez de Vela, the Viceroy of Peru, supported and seized power themselves. De la Gasca should now restore peace in the colonies. The Spanish king was no longer able to raise soldiers against Pizarro because of previous Turkish wars. So traveled de la Gasca with only two other priests, a handful of employees and without any financial means. They had given him but Alonso de Alvarado, a former fellow of Pizarro.
De la Gasca first wanted to give the law by force application. He planned that a fleet of 40 large ships should travel with 15,000 soldiers from Seville to the New World to enforce peace. The fleet of Pizarro was at this time in Panama. Since there is no money for that, and he negotiated with Admiral Pedro de Hinojosa († May 6, 1553 ), who commanded the fleet of Pizarro from Panama. After some time the Admiral changed sides.
Pizarro, who had to vacate his position now due to lack of support, retired to Cuzco, as he could rely on the troops there. De la Gasca went with the former fleet of Pizarro to Tumbes, a port city in the north of present-day Peru. He published a work in which he testified that he had come in the name of peace and that every godly man is invited to follow his army. In another public work he promised all deserters absolution and picked up the protective laws for the Indians ( Leyes Nuevas ), and thus the reason for the rebellion.
After it was de la Gasca able to provide a powerful army to his feet, he decided to move in December 1547 to Cuzco. The two armies clashed in the plain of Cuzco. Even before the battle, de la Gasca conversed with the officers Pizarro, of which he was able to win some of the crown, by giving them promises. On April 9, 1548 met then it came to the decisive battle between the royalist forces and from the valley of Xaquixaguana arrived troops, who stood on the side of Pizarro. The officers changed sides with the exception of Francisco de Carvajal, called the demon of the Andes. Nevertheless, the battle was decided. Pizarro and his key allies were executed.
After the battle, after all his opponents were beaten either on his side or he could dispel the adventurers who had turned against him and paid his own troops. He founded the administrative and judicial branches of new and reorganized the administration of taxes. He also brought reforms to the way that should alleviate the oppression of the Indians. De la Gasca proved in his actions as assertive and relentless.
A year after the successful battle against Pizarro put de la Gasca his offices to return to Spain the following year can. He was appointed by Charles V to the bishop of Palencia. In 1561, he was charged by Philip II to the rank of Bishop of Siguenza.