Antonio de Berrio

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Antonio de Berrío
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Antonio de Berrío (1527–1597) was a Spanish soldier, governor and explorer in Colonial America.[1][2][3]

Biography

Antonio de Berrío was born in

Rebellion of the Alpujarras against the rebellious Moriscos. After the conflict in the mountains of Granada
, was already appointed as captain of a cavalry company to the surveillance of the coasts of Granada, to finally be appointed governor of the Alpujarras.

Already as governor Berrío marries María de Oruña, maternal niece of adelantado and lawyer Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. The latter, who died in 1579, in his will appoints Berrio and his wife as successors and heirs of their titles and assets. They receive the news by the Correo de las Indias in 1580, Berrío is 53 years old and his life, which seemed to take a calmer course, returns to action.

Upon his arrival in America, and as governor of Trinidad in 1580-1597, title inherited from his political uncle, the adelantado Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, founder of Bogotá and one of the main characters among the conquistadores of New Granada, will continue with the work begun by him Antonio de Berrio organized several expeditions to Guiana Plateau in his search for the mythical El Dorado. Between 1583 and 1589 he carried out his first two expeditions, penetrating the hostile and wild regions of the Colombian plains and the Upper Orinoco.

First expedition

The expedition first took place on January 1, 1584. It counted 80 conquistadores and its route crossed

San José de Oruña
.

Second expedition

In 1587 he went on a second expedition, lasting over two years. During this time, he investigated the western cliffs of the Guiana Plateau.

Third expedition

In 1590 he began his third expedition, managing to sail the Orinoco downstream until reaching the Caroní, that is when Berrío believed he had found the step he was looking for on his way to El Dorado, but in order to continue with the expedition he needed men and food, therefore part towards the

Trinidad Island, which he considered a future good base for the following explorations, he was informed of the death of his wife. In 1595 Berrío is 68 years old, has spent his formidable heritage on expeditions, neither the governor of Margarita Province nor that of Caracas
wanted to help him with new adventures, so he resorts to the crown. Berrio waits anxiously in Trinidad for the arrival of 300 men and the food and money requested to continue his search for El Dorado.

Fourth expedition. Prisoner of Walter Raleigh.

Antonio de Berrio captured by Walter Raleigh
Main article:
Raleigh's El Dorado Expedition

In April of 1595 two ships arrive at the Margarita island, but they are not the requested reinforcements, they are two English ships under the command of

Cumana, in a prisoners exchange deal.[4]

Death and legacy

Antonio de Berrio died at age 70 in

Elizabeth I, but execution was put on hold for an indefinite prison in the Tower of London. After twelve years of captivity, Raleigh regained his freedom, all this time did not serve to forget El Dorado, fever led him to make another expedition in his search that ended in failure and also broke the pact not to damage the Spanish possessions in the new world product of the new policy of alliance of England with Spain, which cost him his head at the hands of an executioner to satisfy the Spanish monarch Philip III on October 29, 1618.[5]

References

  1. ISBN 978-9768054517
  2. ISBN 9788420658964
    pgs. 33-44.
  3. ^ Antonio de Berrio Spanish explorer Encyclopædia Britannica
  4. ^ Niall Ferguson Empire : How Britain Made the Modern World 416 pages Gardners Books 2002
    ISBN 978-0713996159
  5. OCLC 556943554
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