Nicolás de Ovando
Governor General of the Indies
(c. 1451–1511)

Biographical

Governor General of the Indies 1501–08
Knight of the Order of Alcántara [Spain]
Senior Commander of the Order of Alcántara
Commander of Lares of the Order of Alcántara c. 1478–1503

Ovando was initially occupied with the affairs of the Order of Alcántara before being appointed governor general of the Indies in 1501. He arrived in Santo Domingo in April 1502 and sought to establish royal authority and reorganise Spanish settlement across Hispaniola, refounding Santo Domingo and establishing new towns and town councils while promoting agriculture, mining and the Church. His governorship was marked by repeated conflicts with the indigenous population: the abuses committed under the previous administration provoked an uprising in Higüey, which Ovando responded to with a military campaign; after a temporary peace, further abuses led to renewed resistance and another campaign that ended with the capture and execution of Chief Cotubanamá and the pacification of the region. He then faced resistance in Jaraguá, where he suppressed another uprising, ordered the execution of Chief Anacaona and established further Spanish settlements. At the same time, Ovando introduced the distribution of indigenous labour, with forced labour becoming central to mining, agriculture and domestic service, contributing to the severe decline of the indigenous population. He also dealt with Spanish rebels and abuses among the colonists, promoted further exploration of the Caribbean, and supported Juan Ponce de León’s exploration and pacification of Borinquén. Ovando's governorship was marked by serious errors of judgement, particularly his delay of about seven months in permitting assistance to reach the survivors of Columbus’s fourth voyage and his decision to allow the fleet to sail for Spain despite Columbus’s warning of an approaching storm, resulting in the destruction of almost the entire fleet and the loss of royal and private gold. He was replaced as governor by Diego Columbus in 1509. Little is known of Ovando's life after he returned to Spain in 1509. In February 1511, he was chosen by the King to accompany him on a campaign in North Africa, but the expedition never took place. Ovando died in May that year. His date and place of birth are not known with certainty.

Place of birth: Cáceres
Place of death: Seville
Place of burial: Convent of San Benito de Alcántara

Son of Diego de Cáceres Ovando and Isabel Flores