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Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras (Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain, ca. 1485 – Guadalajara, New Spain, 4 July 1541) was a Spanish conquistador and governor of Guatemala.〔Lovell, Lutz and Swezey 1984, p. 461.〕 He participated in the conquest of Cuba, in Juan de Grijalva's exploration of the coasts of the Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico, and in the conquest of Mexico led by Hernán Cortés. He is considered the conquistador of much of Central America, including Guatemala and El Salvador. Although renowned for his skill as a soldier, Alvarado is known also for the cruelty of his treatment of native populations, and mass murders committed in the subjugation of the native peoples of Mexico.〔León Portilla 2006, pp. 131–132.〕 Historiography portrays that indigenous people, both Nahuatl-speakers and speakers of other languages, called him ''Tonatiuh'', meaning "sun" in the Nahuatl language. Yet he was also called "Red Sun" in Nahuatl, which allows a variety of interpretations. Whether this epithet refers to Alvarado's red hair, some esoteric quality attributed to him, or both, is disputed. ==Character and appearance== Pedro de Alvarado was flamboyant and charismatic,〔Myers 2004, pp. 19, 182.〕 and was both a brilliant military commander〔Recinos 1986, pp. 205, 207.〕 and a cruel, hardened man.〔 His hair and beard were blond, which earned him the name of ''Tonatiuh'' from the Aztecs, the name of one of their sun gods.〔 He was handsome,〔León Portilla 2006, p. 132.〕 and presented an affable appearance, but was volatile and quick to anger.〔Burland 1973, p. 216.〕 He was ruthless in his dealings with the indigenous peoples he set out to conquer. Historians judge that his greed drove him to excessive cruelty,〔Recinos 1986, p. 205.〕 and his Spanish contemporaries denounced his extreme brutality during his lifetime. He was a poor governor of territories he had conquered, and restlessly sought out new adventures.〔Recinos 1998, p. 17.〕 His tactical brutality, such as the massacre in the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, often undermined strategic considerations.〔Recinos 1998, p. 18.〕 He was also accused of cruelty against fellow Spaniards.〔Recinos 1986, p. 206.〕 Alvarado was little suited to govern; when he held governing positions, he did little to establish stable foundations for colonial rule. His letters show no interest in civil matters, and he only discussed exploration and war.〔 Alvarado stubbornly resisted attempts by the Spanish Crown to establish ordered taxation in Guatemala, and refused to acknowledge such attempts. As governor of Guatemala, Alvarado has been described by W. George Lovell et al as "an insatiable despot who recognized no authority but his own and who regarded Guatemala as little more than his personal estate."〔 American historian William H. Prescott described Alvarado's character in the following terms: Spanish chronicler Antonio de Remesal commented that "Alvarado desired more to be feared than loved by his subjects, whether they were Indians or Spaniards."〔Recinos 1986, p. 208.〕 In his easy recourse to violence, Alvarado was a product of his time, and Alvarado was not the only ''conquistador'' to have resorted to such actions. Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro carried out deeds of similar cruelty, but have not attracted as much criticism as Alvarado.〔Recinos 1986, p. 209.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pedro de Alvarado」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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