How about a story about ambition? A conquistador’s ambition. That is part of the story of León 1.
Let me tell you about Sebastián de Belalcázar. He was a Spanish conquistador. He was born Sebastián Moyano y Cabrera around 1490 in Spain. Later, he became known for his role in the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
Belalcázar founded several important colonial cities. These cities included Quito, Cali, Pasto, and Popayán. He led expeditions in present-day Ecuador and Colombia. Imagine him standing right here where León 1 stands now planning his conquests.
Belalcázar’s early life remains somewhat mysterious. Some sources say he sailed to the New World with Christopher Columbus. That was as early as 1498. By 1522, he was an encomendero in Panama.
In 1524, Belalcázar entered Nicaragua with Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. He became the first mayor of León in Nicaragua. Internal disputes led him to Honduras in 1527. He briefly returned to León before sailing to Peru. There he joined Francisco Pizarro’s expedition in 1532.
Belalcázar’s ambition drove him to conquer Quito. This was without direct orders from Pizarro. In 1534, he commanded the settlement of San Miguel. He set off to conquer Quito. Quito was once the northernmost city of the Inca Empire. Belalcázar defeated the Inca general Rumiñahui. The local population hid the city’s treasure. Belalcázar founded the new city of Quito with Diego de Almagro and Baltasar Maldonado. He named it San Francisco de Quito in honor of Pizarro.
Driven by the lure of El Dorado, Belalcázar moved north into present-day Colombia in 1535. He entered the Cauca River Valley. He founded Santiago de Cali in 1536. He also founded Pasto and Popayán in 1537. Popayán was second in importance only to Quito.
Crossing overland to the Magdalena River Valley, Belalcázar reached the highlands of central Colombia in 1539. Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada and Nikolaus Federmann also arrived there. All three men presented their claims to King Charles V.
The King granted Belalcázar rule over the area. He received the title of governor of Popayán. He also received the honorary title of adelantado in May 1540. Land squabbles arose again. This time it was between Belalcázar and Pascual de Andagoya. Both men claimed the governorship of Popayán. Belalcázar defended his lands successfully. He even took over some of Andagoya’s territory.
Belalcázar intervened in a disagreement between supporters of the Pizarro and Almagro families in Peru. In 1546, he ordered the execution of Jorge Robledo. Robledo governed a neighboring province. This was due to yet another land-related feud.
In 1550, Belalcázar was tried in absentia. He was convicted and sentenced to death for Robledo’s death. He was also charged with other offenses related to his involvement in conquistador wars. A victim of his own ambition, he died in 1551. He died in Cartagena, Colombia, before he could appeal the decision in Spain.
Here at León 1 remember Belalcázar’s ambition. Remember the heights it took him to. Remember the depths it brought him to.