Beatriz de la Cueva

Beatriz de la Cueva was born to aristocratic parents, probably in 1498[1] or 1500,[2] in Úbeda, Jaén province, Andalusia, Spain.

[6] Beatriz de la Cueva then successfully promoted herself as her husband's successor as governor of Guatemala among Alvarado's colleagues and friends.

[10] She soon appointed her brother Francisco as her lieutenant, entrusted with day-to-day matters, while retaining for herself all powers relating to the distribution of wealth, Indian labour, and encomiendas.

[9] Thus, she became the first female governor in the New World,[1] although her cousin María de Toledo had previously served as vicereine of Santo Domingo.

The conspirators had planned to seize power in a coup early in the morning of September 11, and evaded the soldiers sent to arrest them by hiding in an abandoned house.

[12] Meanwhile, torrential rains combined with an earthquake led to the collapse of the crater wall of the Volcán de Agua in the early hours of 11 September.

[9] The three-storey stone palace had been built beside the arroyo, high on the volcano's slope, overlooking the fledgling colonial capital.

[14] In the aftermath of her death Beatriz de la Cueva was blamed for the disaster as it was considered to be a godly punishment for her sins.