Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Velázquez ( 1511 – 22 July 1563 ) was a Spanish conquistador , and three times governor of Chile . Early life . Born at Santervás de Campos , he was the son of Alvaro de Sarría and Ana Velázquez de Villagra , who were not married . For this reason he took the name of his mother . Upon arrival in America , he went to Peru , where he planned with Captain Alonso de Mesa an attempt to free Diego de Almagro , then a prisoner of the Pizarro brothers . Discovered in this plot , he was condemned to death , but Hernándo Pizarro spared his life . Conquest of Chile . He traveled to Chile with Pedro de Valdivia and participated in the conquest of Chile . He was present at the foundation of Santiago in 1541 , he occupied various positions in the government of the city , and he was called on to defend it from the assault of Michimalonco cacique in September of the same year . First government . When Valdivia decided to travel to Peru in search of reinforcements in 1548 , he made Villagra Lieutenant Governor of Chile . Soon after assuming his post he discovered a conspiracy directed by Pero Sánchez de la Hoz , that already had tried to seize the government on previous occasions , but that Valdivia had pardoned because of his possible influence in court . Villagra was not so benevolent , and he was executed , without even giving him time to confess himself . This death caused problems for Valdivia , a judgment against him was made for various irregularities , but he overcame them , bringing in addition the designation of governor of Chile from the viceroy . In 1551 Villagra was sent to Peru to recruit the men necessary for further campaigns in the south against the Mapuches and returned to take part in them . Second government . Valdivia died in the Battle of Tucapel , on 25 December 1553 . In his testament , that was only to be opened upon his death , he first named Jerónimo de Alderete governor of Chile , second choice was to be Francisco de Aguirre and lastly Villagra . Alderete was in Spain negotiating recognition of Valdivia ' s position with the king , and Aguirre was involved in the conquest of Tucumán . The cities of the south then proclaimed Villagra as governor . In Santiago where the testament of Valdivia was not opened and Rodrigo de Quiroga proclaimed himself governor . Villagra tried to stop the indigenous rebellion , led by Lautaro , but when facing him in the Battle of Marihueñu on the 26 February he suffered a terrible defeat , having half of his soldiers killed and the remainder unable to prevent the destruction of Concepción . When he arrived in Santiago to recover the situation , he convinced Quiroga to leave his office . When Aguirre received the news , he was in Tucumán , and Villagra had already been named governor , due to the death of Alderete and the absence of Aguirre . Apprised of the situation by his friends in La Serena , Aguirre immediately returned there , where he was welcomed as the Captain General , or Governor of Chile . He communicated this choice to Santiago , letting it be known that the troops under his command were prepared to maintain his position , which was his by right of Valdivia ' s will . The town council of Santiago , however , refused to acknowledge the declaration , disarming the contingent of troops under Aguirre ' s brother Hernando which had been sent to deliver it . The conflict was finally resolved when a petition was sent to the Audiencia in Lima , which determined that the council had to submit to the command for six months , after which the viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza would designate a new governor . If the term expired , Villagra would be the governor , in command of the army of the south . Aguirre wanted to ignore the verdict , but his forces were too small to match Villagra ' s if there was a confrontation , so he accepted it bitterly . Meanwhile the War of Arauco continued its course , and Lautaro returned to defeat the Spaniards in Angol and destroyed once again the newly restored Conception . Pedro de Villagra turned back Lautaro ' s march on Santiago at the Battle of Peteroa . The Governor then marched to the south , managed to reinforce the beleaguered cites there and then returned to surprise and defeat the Mapuches and kill Lautaro , in the Battle of Mataquito . Exile in Lima . Soon after Villagra prevailed at Mataquito the new governor designated by the viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza , 3rd Marquis of Cañete arrived . This was his son Don García Hurtado de Mendoza . Among the first actions of the new governor , was to take both Aguirre and Villagra prisoners . Sent to Lima to be judged on his performance , the sentence was favorable to Villagra . This gained the confidence of many who saw in his arrest an act of abuse by the son of the viceroy . Last government and death . Years later , he was named by the King as the successor to Hurtado de Mendoza , and he took office in 1561 . His government began with a terrible event , since the boat in which he came brought the smallpox to Chile . It appeared in a disastrous epidemic in Valparaiso and Santiago , but also affected with still greater severity the Mapuches that lost between twenty and twenty five percent of their population . When initiating his rule he reorganized the regulation of the work in the mines and annulled the encomiendas that Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza had given to his friends and companions , which began new protests against him . He organized a new expedition against the Mapuche , but his body tired of so many battles fell irremediably ill . He had to be transferred in a stretcher to the battle sites . He also suffered in addition the death of his son Pedro de Villagra in this war , which made his mental and physical condition worse . He later designated his cousin Pedro de Villagra to continue the campaign , giving him also the title of temporary governor , thanks to a power given him by the viceroy . He died at Concepción two days later , on 22 July 1563 , and according to his desire , was buried with the Franciscan habit . See also . Sources . < BR > < BR >