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Juan Ortiz de Zarate | |
|---|---|
 Arms of the Ortiz de Zarate family | |
| Born | c. 1521 |
| Died | 1575 Asunción, Paraguay |
Juan Ortiz de Zárate (c. 1521 – 1575) was a SpanishBasque explorer andconquistador. He journeyed to the Americas as a teenager, where he took part in the conquest of Peru underDiego de Almagro.
On the removal ofFrancisco Ortiz de Vergara from office, he was the conquistadors' preferred choice to be his replacement, but theRoyal Audience required he return to Spain for confirmation by theCouncil of the Indies whileFelipe de Cáceres governed in his stead.
He returned to Spain and was appointed the thirdadelantado of theGovernorate of the Río de la Plata, with the goal of exploring and populating the lands, founding towns, and introducingcattle and horses. His expedition left the port ofSanlúcar de Barrameda in October 1572 but reached the mouth of the Plata more than a year later, disembarking at the location of present-dayColonia, Uruguay.
Zárate attempted to subdue theCharrúa, who had destroyed several previous settlements in what is now Uruguay, but he was attacked and forced to seek shelter onMartín García Island.Juan de Garay, who had just founded the city ofSanta Fe, was sent for and promptly came to the rescue; the combined forces defeated the Charrúas. Ortiz de Zárate was forced to leave a permanent guard at the settlement, while he marched toAsunción to assume his post as governor.
He held this office until his death in 1575. He willed his authority to his daughter Juana, but was succeeded by her husband, Juan Torres de Vera y Aragón.
| Preceded by | Governor of Río de la Plata 1572–1575 | Succeeded by |