Gonzalo de Alvarado

This article is about the conquistador and co-founder of San Salvador. For his cousin, see Gonzalo de Alvarado y Chávez.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is de Alvarado and the second or maternal family name is Contreras.

Gonzalo de Alvarado y Contreras was a Spanish conquistador and brother of Pedro de Alvarado who participated in campaigns in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador (co-founding its present capital, San Salvador).

Gonzalo de Alvarado was a native of Badajoz and son of Diego Gómez de Alvarado y Mexía de Sandoval, born in Badajoz in 1460 and vecino of Badajoz, Extremadura, Commander of Lobón, Puebla, Montijo and Cubillana, Alcalde of Montánchez, Trece of the Order of Santiago, Lord of Castellanos, Maestresala of Henry IV of Castile and General of the Frontier of Portugal, widow of Teresa Suárez de Moscoso y Figueroa, and second wife Leonor de Contreras y Gutiérrez de Trejo.

Alvarado y Contreras went to Hispaniola in 1510 with all his older brother Pedro and younger brothers Jorge, Gómez, Hernando and Juan and their uncle Diego de Alvarado y Mexía de Sandoval.

When Pedro de Alvarado was wounded on his left thigh and handicapped for the rest of his life he abandoned the war and appointed his brother, Gonzalo de Alvarado, to continue the task. In 1525 the conquest of El Salvador was completed and the city of San Salvador was established.

His descendants were represented by the family Vides de Alvarado after the famous 17th century historians Francisco Antonio de Fuentes y Guzmán and also the father Domingo Juarros y Montufar.

Family

Main article: Alvarado family

Ancestors

Ancestors of Gonzalo de Alvarado y Contreras

16. Fernando Sánchez or Sánz del Varado 8. Garci Sánchez de Varado or de Alvarado 17. María González de Aguilar 4. Juan de Alvarado 18. Alvaro Dávila 9. Leonor de Bracamonte 19. 2. Diego Gómez de Alvarado y Mexía de Sandoval 20. 10. 21. 5. Catalina Mexía y Sandoval 22. 11. 23. 1. Gonzalo de Alvarado y Contreras 24. 12. Fernán Núñez de Contreras or Fernando Martínez de Contreras, el Viejo 25. 6. Gonzalo de Contreras y Carvajal 26. Alvar García de Bejarano or de Orellana, Señor de Orellana la Nueva 13. Sarra or Sara de Carvajal 27. Mencía González de Carvajal 3. Leonor de Contreras y Gutiérrez de Trejo 28. Gutierre González de Trejo, 7. Señor de Grimaldo, Almofraque y Carchuelas 14. 29. Violante Gutiérrez de la Cerda 7. Isabel Gutiérrez de Trejo y Ulloa 30. 15. 31.

Further reading

• Restall, Matthew; Florine Asselbergs (2007). Invading Guatemala: Spanish, Nahua, and Maya Accounts of the Conquest Wars. University Park, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press. ISBN 978-0-271-02758-6. OCLC 165478850.