Pedro de Villagra

Pedro de Villagra y Martínez (1513 in Mombeltrán, Ávila Province – September 11, 1577 in Lima) was a Spanish soldier who participated in the conquest of Chile, being appointed its Royal Governor between 1563 and 1565.

After the death of the governor, he moved back to Peru, where he married Beatriz de Figueroa.

His military strategy led him to concentrate his forces, vacating the fort Arauco in order to reinforce Angol and Concepción.

Later he headed a new campaign in the south, relieving the Siege of Concepcion and resulting in the victorious battles of Reinohuelen and Tolmillán against the Mapuches north of the Bio-Bio River.

With the death of the viceroy López de Zúñiga y Velasco in 1564 the political situation deteriorated for Villagra.