ALVARADO, PEDRO DE ( ? — 1541). A Spanish adventurer, a companion of Cortes, and afterward conqueror of Guatemala. He was born at Badajoz, in Spanish Estremadura. In 1517 or 1518, he sailed for the New World, and in the latter year was dispatched from Cuba, by Veins Inez. the governor of that island, to explore. under the command of Grijalva, the shores of the American continent. when for the first time the Spaniards heard of the riches of Montezuma, and of his vast empire. In February. 1519, Alvarado sailed with Cortes from Havana for the conquest of Mexico, in which Alvarado played a part second only to Cortes. Ells blue eyes and blond beard strengthened the impression amour the dusky Aztecs that the invaders were "chil dren of the sun." descendants of Quetzleoatl, who were looked for to resume the dominion of the ancient royal house in Mexico. While he held the city of Mexico. during the absence of his chief, lie massacred in the midst of a fête a great number of Aztec nobles. In the night retreat of July 1, 1520, the ?melte tristc, Alvarado com manded the rear-guard, and saved his life by a famous leap, the "salto de Alvarado." which he accomplished with the aid. of his long spear
across a wide breach in the causeway along which the retreating Spaniards were being driven. After the conquest of Mexico, he was sent, in 1523, to subdue the tribes on the coast of the Pacific in the direction of Guatemala. lie was completely successful, and returned to Spa in, where the Emperor Charles V. appointed him Governor of Guatemala. Pizarro and Almagro were then prosecuting a brilliant career of con quest in South America. Alvarado did not intend to intrude on their territories, but as he consid ered the province of Quito to be without the limits of these, lie landed with a force of five hundred soldiers at Bahia de los Caraques, whence he penetrated into the heart of the coun try, crossing the Andes by a bold and hazardous march. In the plain of Rio Bamba, he was met by some of the troops of Pizarro, headed by Almagro, and agreed to retire on receiving an indemnity. Subsequently he received the gov ernment of Honduras in addition to Guatemala. He perished in an affray with the Indians near Guadalajara in western Mexico in 1541, crushed under his fallen horse.