ALONSO DE OJEDA: BIOGRAPHY, TRAVELS AND FOUNDED CITIES - HISTORY - 2024

Alonso de Ojeda was a Spanish navigator and conqueror. During his youth he participated in the taking of Granada, from 1482 to 1491. Previously, the city of Granada was in the hands of the Muslim Empire; in this way he demonstrated skills in the battle against the Arab guerrillas.

However, the fact that stands out the most about this character is that he accompanied the conqueror Christopher Columbus on his second trip to the American continent. This happened in 1493 and during that trip he reached the island of Hispaniola. This island is currently shared by two free nations: the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti.

This conqueror was also on the mainland, specifically in lands that today are part of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Republic of Colombia and Guyana. In those territories he dedicated himself to exploring and subduing the indigenous people who lived there.

In the territories visited he was in charge of looting the wealth found there to send them to Spain, especially resources of great value such as gold and pearls. As part of his mission in favor of the Spanish monarchy, he also recruited and sent enslaved people to the European continent.

Biography

Alonso de Ojeda was born in Tordecillo del Rey, in Cuenca, Kingdom of Spain, in the year 1468. Initially his family had few resources, but had very important family ties for the time.

One of his close relatives, who was also named Alonso, was a bishop member of the Court of the Inquisition. They were in charge of trying and convicting people who, from the point of view of the interests of the Spanish Crown, were committing some kind of crime. The sentence could even lead to death at the stake.

Thanks to her family ties with him, she got to know Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca. He took him under his wing, which opened the door to many very lucrative opportunities.

Routes and trips

In 1492 Christopher Columbus undertook a journey to India on behalf of the kings of Spain.

During this trip the navigators came across what for them were unknown lands. In this territory there were organized societies with very different customs from the European ones and, above all, they were surrounded by immense wealth.

After this first trip, Columbus returned to Spain and informed the Catholic kings about the immense riches of the territory, called by them the "New World".

In order to verify what Columbus said, the Catholic kings ordered a second expedition. Alonso de Ojeda also embarked on this. It was Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca who, through his influence, helped him make this happen.

Trip to the island Hispaniola

Alonso de Ojeda's first trip to the "new world" was made in 1493. After being able to accompany Columbus, Alonso stood out for exploring the Cibao area. This region is located on the island of Hispaniola, specifically in the Dominican Republic.

On the same island he also explored the Vega Real. There he found two rivers with abundant gold nuggets. Later he sent them to Spain as the first sample of the riches of the New World.

Also on this trip Alonso de Ojeda commanded the massacre of the original groups of the island. In a contradictory way, this action is known as “pacification”. He is also recognized for having been able to dissuade the fierce chieftain Caonabo.

As a reward for the massacre committed and for the wealth obtained in favor of the Spanish Crown, he was granted six leagues of land in Maguana, territories that were previously inhabited by the Indians massacred by the Spanish invaders.

Second trip to the New World

At the end of 1498, after having various quarrels with Columbus, Alonso returned to Spain. Thanks again to the protection of Bishop Fonseca, he achieved a capitulation with the kings.

This is how on May 18, 1499, he left Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) aboard a caravel. In this second trip some of his companions were Juan de la Cosa and Américo Vespucio. The first was by profession a cosmographer and the second is named after the continent, previously called by its inhabitants as Pacha Mama.

During this trip Alonso de Ojeda followed the trajectory of Christopher Columbus years ago. He toured the Canary Islands and after 24 days at sea, he found land at the mouth of the Orinoco River.

He then continued his journey west, passing in front of the current island of Trinidad. It continued its journey and passed through the Gulf of Paria, Araya, Isla de Margarita or Nueva Esparta.

He continued his route through what is currently the central coast of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela until reaching Chichiriviche. It continued its journey westward through Venezuelan territory until it reached Coro and then touched land on the island of Curaçao.

On August 9, 1499, he again entered Venezuelan territory. On this occasion he arrived at Cape San Román, this being the northern point of the southern part of the continent.

Return to the island of Hispaniola

After leaving the mainland, Alonso de Ojeda once again reached the very rich island of Hispaniola, where he forced enslaved natives to search for pearls and gold. With the cargo of this wealth, he began his return to Cádiz.

Another result of this trip was the map drawn up by Juan de la Cosa, in which each and every one of the sites traveled was recounted and documented, as well as the resources found at each point.

Third trip through Venezuela

As a reward for the successes obtained on the trip, Ojeda received the title of Governor of Coquivacoa. This title was conferred on him in Cádiz in 1502. The kings also conferred on him a fleet of 4 ships for a new voyage.

He started his journey again through the Canary Islands. After a few days he arrived on the coasts of Paria in eastern Venezuela and on the island of Margarita.

In this way, Ojeda repeated the trip he made years ago when he toured the Venezuelan coast. Then she left the mainland to reach Curaçao again.

Foundation of cities

Santa Cruz population

After touching Curaçao a second time, Ojeda returned to the mainland. This time we passed through Maracaibo and Bahía Honda until we reached Cabo de la Vela. In the northwestern part of Venezuela he founded the town of Santa Cruz.

The importance of this founding process is that it was the first Spanish settlement on the American mainland. The founded town was located in the Bay of Castilletes, on the shores of the Cosinetas lagoon.

Ojeda imprisonment

In September 1502 Alonso de Ojeda came into conflict with his partners. For this reason he was imprisoned for a few months. Likewise, the title of Governor of Coquivacoa was stripped.

After this event, the settlement of Santa Cruz was abandoned and Alonso de Ojeda left again for the island of Hispaniola.

Return to dry land

After staying four years in Hispaniola, he obtained from the famous Junta de Burgos in 1508 the capitulation as governor of Nueva Andalucía.

This belonged to the Urabá region, on the current Colombian coast. The territory included from Cabo de la Vela to the Gulf of Urabá.

When he gathered four ships and 220 men, Alonso de Ojeda left Santo Domingo for Nueva Granada. Among the men accompanying him on this occasion were Francisco Pizarro and Juan de la Cosa.

The date of departure from Hispaniola is November 10, 1509 and the landing place was Calamar Bay, near present-day Cartagena de Indias.

Fort of San Sebastián de Urabá

Passing through the Gulf of Urabá, on January 20, 1510, he founded the Fort of San Sebastián de Urabá. This fort had a very short existence, since its inhabitants were victims of hunger and the constant attack of indigenous groups in the area.

Even Ojeda himself was shot in the leg by those who defended their territory. Given this, the Spanish were forced to leave the place.

After this failure, Alonso de Ojeda returned to Santo Domingo, where he remained until the end of his days. He died in the year 1515.

References

1. S / D. Alonso de Ojeda. Recovered in: ecured.cu
2. S / D. Alonso de Ojeda. Recovered in: biografiasyvidas.com
3. Oviedo and Baños, José. "History of the province of Venezuela". Edit. The National. Caracas Venezuela
4. Salcedo Bastardo, JL "Fundamental History of Venezuela". Central University of Venezuela. Caracas Venezuela
5. S / D Alonso de Ojeda and his trips to America. Recovered in: americas-fr.com