(3253.1)

Alonso de Ávila
(c. 1486–1542)

Biographical

Regidor of San Juan 1514
Vecino of San Juan 1514
Contador of Santo Domingo 1511–18
Vecino of Mexico City
Encomendero of Calimaya-Metepec-Tepemaxalco –1536
Encomendero of Tepalcatepec (a share) –1531
Encomendero of Tlachichilpa
Encomendero of Totimehuacán –1520s
Encomendero of Cuautitlán
Encomendero of Matlactonatico (a share) 1527
Encomendero of Xuxupango (a share) 1527
Encomendero of Chiapiana

A Spanish conquistador, it appears that Ávila arrived in the Americas with Pedrarias Dávila. He first arrived in Cuba, as one of the main settlers, before moving onto Mexico. He took part in the expeditions of Grijalva, and then joined Cortés in Trinidad, becoming his companion, despite having several disagreements with him, some of which were violent. He had been appointed accountant in Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz by him, but due to his lively character, he was removed from his position, and Gonzalo de Sandoval was appointed in his place. Ávila took part in the important events at the times, such as the first battle of the conquest of New Spain, the arrest of Moctezuma, the retreat of the Noche Triste, and the battle of battle of Otumba. After Cortés had regained control of Tenochtitlan, he sent Ávila to Hispaniola, and gave him the task of conquering New Spain. Cortés later appointed him accountant of New Spain, and sent him on a mission to Santo Domingo. Upon his return, he once again aroused Cortés' suspicion. To rid himself of such a dangerous rival, he included him in the list of those who were to accompany to Spain the treasure of Moctezuma and Cuauhtémoc in 1522. The expedition left from the port of Veracruz in December that year; the caravels carrying the Aztec treasure were attacked and captured by the French corsair Juan Fleury. Ávila was first taken prisoner to a place called Lieu-Dieu-en-Jard, which belonged to the La Tremouille family, near Sables d'Olonne in Vendée, and shortly afterward, when that prison was no longer considered secure, to the fortified city of La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast. His captivity lasted more than three years, and when he was able to inform Charles V, who was then in Flanders, of his condition, the emperor finally arranged for his ransom. He went to Spain, arriving in Seville in a very poor and exhausted state. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed governor of the provinces of Yucatán and Cozumel, of which Francisco de Montejo was adelantado. There he was deprived of essential needs and faced various dangers, but managed to achieve many discoveries at a great personal cost, which ultimately led to the deterioration of his health.. He went to Mexico City to recover, but died at his brother’s house.

Place of birth: Ciudad Real, Spain
Place of death: Mexico

A grandson of Alonso de Ávila of Ávila, he was married firstly to Elvira Guillén in 1518 (with issue, including an unnamed daughter who married Cristóbal de Paredes), and secondly to Juana López.

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