EXPLORERS from EXTREMADURA

“Extremadura was my Spain…I saw about me the suspicious, dour Extremadurans, whose ancestors had conquered not cities but whole nations and continents. I felt that I had come back to my own land.”  Michener, James A. IBERIA; 1968

            In his non-fiction book of his travels through Spain, Michener’s first chapter after his introduction, is “BADAJOZ” . 

            It is obvious why he began with Extremadura based on the quote above, but it was also the fact that Michener did extensive study on explorers. And just as he did, many people still have similar views of Spanish explorers: firstly these people were courageous and made many contributions even in their struggles and voyages, but secondly, that conquistadores are remembered for their ruthless conquests of indigenous civilizations.

            It is a well-known fact that many men (and some women), came for the region of Extremadura. Extremaduran’s contribution to the age of discovery was more prevalent than others from Spain. It was through the Extremaduran generals that many of the area soldiers were recruited. The new recruits were willing to leave behind a life of poverty and hardship to seek fortunes in the new world.

            In some of our future blog posts, we will introduce, not only the most famous of the generals, but also some of the lesser known soldiers along with their contributions to history, all originating from Extremadura.

             These are a few of the extremeño explorers:

            Vasco Nuñez de Balbao and Hernando de Soto from Jerez de los Caballeros.

            Francisco Pizarro Gonzalez, Francisco de Orellana  and Alonso de Sotomayor y Valmediano from Trujillo.

            Leonel de Cervantes and Pedro Gallego Andrada from Burguillos del Cerro.

            Pedro Arias de Almesto and Luis de Moscoso from Zafra.

            Hernán Cortes de Monroy y Pizzaro from Medellín.

            Pedro de Alvarado, Jorge Alvarado, Diego Alvarado, and Juan de Alonso are from Badajoz.

            Hernando de Bustammante and Juan Rodriguez Suarez from Merida.

            Francisco Aguilar from Villalba.

            Garcia Aguilar from Villafranca

            Alonso Álvarez de Pineda from Aldeacentenera, Cáceres.
            Marina Ortiz de Gaete wife of Pedro de Valdivia from Zalamea de la Serena, Badajoz. Valdivia was also from Badajoz.
    
            

R. Aguilar