On Pedro de Alvarado
By
Adam Hale
In the course of studying history one occasionally comes across an individual who
seems very intriguing. Pedro de Alvarado is one of those people that stick out in history
as unique, like someone you may want to meet. Alvarado was a Spaniard born in Badajoz
six years before Columbus discovered America.1 He was an adventurer climbing the
ranks during the time of the early conquistadors. He seems to have been born at just the
right time and with all the characteristics that we romanticize about conquistadors.
Alvarado was a man who was restless, ambitious, courageous, and seemed to have a little
trouble with authority. This paper will discuss some of the high points of Alvarado’s life
and pay special attention to his role in the conquest of Mexico.
Before Alvarado participated in the conquest of Mexico, he was a part of a
smaller expedition along the coast of Mexico lead by Juan de Grijalva. He was
accompanied on both expeditions by Bernal Diaz, the writer of the Spanish account of the
conquest. Diaz says that Alvarado was a good storyteller and that he went ahead of
Grijalva and explored a river. The river was named Rio de Alvarado since he was the first
to enter it.2 But the General was very angry with him for going alone because no one
would have been able to help him if he had gotten into any trouble. This would not be the
only time that Alvarado would get into trouble with his superior.
1
2
“Pedro de Alvarado.” Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006 [CD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2005.
Bernal Diaz. The Conquest of New Spain, trans. J.M. Cohen (Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd.) 34.
Somehow Alvarado talked his five brothers into joining his next expedition under
Hernan Cortes.3 Early in the expedition Alvarado arrived at Cozumel two days before
Cortes. During this time he commandeered 40 chickens and some precious metals, but
when Cortes found out “he reprimanded him severely, telling him that he would never
pacify the country by robbing the natives of their possessions.”4 It is ironic that Cortes
scalded Alvarado for stealing when later on Cortes will be responsible for stealing a lot
more.
When the Spaniards needed to convince the Cempoloans to ally with them
Alvarado led the horsemen as they galloped on the beach. This display was enhanced by
the horsemen tying little bells to their breastplates.5 Alvarado was a lot more than show,
though, he helped Francisco Lugo flee from an Indian attack and make it back to camp.6
He was also one of the brave captains who helped Cortes capture Montezuma. The
decision was a hard one to make, and the captains prayed for “God to direct events in the
interests of his holy service.”7
Bernal Diaz describes Alvarado as handsome, good-mannered, and having a bad
habit of talking too much. A very interesting glimpse into Alvarado’s personality is when
he keeps score for Cortes while he plays Montezuma at an Aztec game called totoluque.
While Montezuma was being held prisoner Cortes would take four captains with him,
usually Alvarado was one of these captains, to try and cheer Montezuma up. Whoever
won the game would graciously give his winnings to someone on the other side. While
Alvarado was keeping score for Cortes he would add one more point to Cortes’ score
3
Diaz, 50.
Diaz, 58.
5
Diaz, 91.
6
Diaz, 71,72.
7
Diaz, 243.
4
than he actually won. Montezuma expressed his dislike about Alvarado, who was given
the nicknames Tonatio and The Sun, keeping score, and Cortes and all the other
Spaniards cracked up in laughter.89
Cortes would not be laughing when he returned to Tenochtitlan after dealing with
Navraez. Cortes left Alvarado in charge in Tenochtitlan while he was away. One of the
most controversial events of the conquest would occur under Alvarado during this time.
The sources agree about what happened but there is a difference about why it happened.
The event was at the main temple and called the feast of Toxcatl.10 The Spanish attacked
the musicians, singers, spectators, and all who were involved in the preparations. The
slaughter lasted about three hours. Montezuma and the Spaniards had given permission
for the event, so why did the Spaniards massacre the people? When Cortes arrived back
in the city he questioned Alvarado about the Indian revolt. Alvarado told Cortes that he
heard that as soon as the festival was over the Indians were going to attack. This does not
seem to have been true because when Alvarado attacked the Indians they should have
been able to fight back. Regardless of whether the attack was real or not “Cortes
exclaimed very angrily that it was a bad thing and a great mistake.”11 The damage had
been done and the Spaniards would pay dearly.
The Indians laid siege on the Spaniards in the city which eventually led up to
what is called the night of sorrows. In order to cross the causeway the Spaniards and their
Tlascalan allies made pieces to fill in the breaks in the bridge with beams and planks.12
8
Diaz, 252.
Broken Spears. Trans. Angel Maria Garibay K, trans. Lysander Kemp.(Boston: Beacon Press, 1992) 80.
10
Broken Spears, 70.
11
Diaz, 294-286.
12
Diaz, 297.
9
Alvarado’s place in the escape that night, for better or worse, was in the rear.13 Alvarado
did survive the escape that night but only after losing his horse and being badly wounded.
The 12 others that came with him were the last out of the city, and they were all wounded
as badly as Alvarado, who was interestingly carrying a spear. Diaz says that the bridge
Alvarado crossed “was afterwards called Alvarado’s Leap.”14
In the second part of the conquest, when Cortes came back in brigantines,
Alvarado and his men fought very well. In fact Alvarado, the last to leave the city, was
the first to penetrate deep into it.15 After the fighting was over the Spanish emerged
victorious and Alvarado set his sights on Central America. He is credited as being the
conqueror of Guatemala. He defeated the Quiche, and their capitol Utatlan impressed the
veterans of the Aztec campaign. Just like Cortes he “exploited bitter tribal rivalries that
divided the indigenous peoples.” The Cakchiquel were the Quiche’s enemies and
Alvarado allied with the Cakchiquel. After Alvarado subdued the Quiche he turned on the
Cakchiquel next. They resisted so fiercely much that Alvarado burned their “captured
chiefs to death, an action he eventually had to defend in a Spanish court.”16
Alvarado left a legacy of adventurous conquests and some questionable acts.
Some new and greedy soldiers provoked a rebellion in an area Cortes had conquered.
Alvarado was one of the captains sent to squash the rebellion. The Spanish were forgiven
and 400 captured Indians were burned to death.17 He also took a bribe of 100,000 gold
pesos to leave Peru and return to Guatemala.18 Dr. Garibay says that Alvarado “was as
13
Diaz, 297.
Diaz, 300.
15
Diaz, 398.
16
Mark A. Burkholder and Lyman L. Johnson, Colonial Latin America (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2004), 62.
17
Burkholder and Johnson, 61.
18
Burkholder and Johnson, 57.
14
handsome as he was wicked.”19 Maybe this is true or maybe it is not, but I try to avoid
judging people from the past by today’s standards. Alvarado was involved in some very
interesting and unique historical events. He certainly did not lack courage, ambition, and
probably a certain amount of fearlessness. Whether one sees Alvarado as a hero or a
villain depends on the individual. Like the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the
beholder.
19
Broken Spears, 71.