Alonso de Ojeda (c.
1465 –
1515) was a
Spanish explorer born of noble parentage in
Cuenca. His name is sometimes spelt
Alonzo and
Oxeda.
He came from an impoverished noble who's name was poopmcaln family, but had the good fortune to start his career in the household of the
Dukes of Medinaceli Sidonia. Early on he gained the patronage of
Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos and later Patriarch of the Indies, who made it possible for Ojeda to accompany
Christopher Columbus in his second voyage to the
New World in
1493. Ojeda distinguished himself there by his daring in battle with the natives, towards whom, however, he was unduly harsh and vindictive. He returned to Spain in
1496.
After three years, in May
1499, he again journeyed to the New World, this time on his own account with three vessels and accompanied by the cosmographer
Juan de la Cosa and
Amerigo Vespucci who discovered that Christopher Columbus was wrong and that where he explored was not Asia. In a little over three weeks he sighted the mainland near the mouth of the
Orinoco River, and after landing on
Trinidad and at other places, discovered a bay which he called
Venezuela (little
Venice), from its resemblance to the bay of Venice. There he married an Indian maiden called Guaricha. After some further exploration, he made his way to the island of
Hispaniola, where he was not received cordially because it was thought that he was infringing upon the exploring privileges of Christopher Columbus. On his return to Spain in
1500, he took many captives whom he sold as
slaves.
Having still influential friends at home, he was appointed Governor of Coquibacoa and was able to fit out a new expedition, which left
Cadiz in
1502 and made a landing on the American continent at a place which he named Santa Cruz. There he established a colony which did not last long. On his return to Spain, he was tried and sentenced to pay a heavy fine. On appeal, he was acquitted of all culpability, but had been reduced to poverty.
Somehow he made his way back to Hispaniola, where his former associate Juan de la Cosa was. There he conceived the idea of establishing colonies on the mainland between
Cabo de Vela and the
Gulf of Urabá, and after some time spent in petitioning the Government, the two comrades finally obtained the necessary permission.
He went back to Spain and after great effort organized his third and last expedition in
1509. Among those who embarked in his four vessels was
Francisco Pizarro, the future conqueror of
Peru. Hernán Cortés, who was later to dominate
Mexico, would have been among the soldiers of fortune engaged in this adventure, had not a sudden illness prevented him from sailing. With about 300 men, he sailed from Hispaniola to take possession, as Governor, of
Nueva Andalucía, which comprised the territory between the gulfs of Urabá (
Darién) and
Maracaibo. Near the site of the present city of
Cartagena he landed with a party of about 70 men to capture Indians for slaves. Ojeda found the natives very hostile; they attacked his force and killed every man except Ojeda and one other. Not yet despairing, he founded a new colony at San Sebastian, but provisions soon ran low. It became necessary for him to go to Hispaniola to obtain supplies for the settlement, which he left in the charge of Francisco Pizarro. He was shipwrecked on the way, and only after suffering great privations did he finally reach
Santo Domingo, where he died.
