Pedro de Alvarado - Family

Family

After the death of her husband, de la Cueva maneuvered her own election and succeeded him as governor of Guatemala, becoming the only woman to govern a major political division of the Americas in Spanish colonial times. She drowned a few weeks after taking office in the destruction of the capital city Ciudad Vieja by a sudden flow from the Volcan de Agua in September 1541.

Alvarado had no issue from either of his marriages. But more so than his wives his vital companion was Luisa de Tlaxcala (also called Xicoténcalt or Tecubalsi, her original names after Catholic baptism), an Indian noblewoman, daughter of the Tlaxcaltec Chief Xicotenga. Luisa was delivered by her father in 1519 to Hernán Cortés as a proof of respect and friendship, and in turn he gave her in guard to Pedro de Alvarado, who quickly became her lover. Luisa followed Pedro in his adventures, and despite never being recognized as his legitimate wife, had numerous possessions and was respected as a Dame, both for her relationship with de Alvarado and for her noble origin. She died in 1535 and was buried at the Guatemala Cathedral.

With Luisa de Tlaxcala he had three children:

• Leonor de Alvarado y Xicotenga Tecubalsi, born in the newly founded city of Santiago de los Caballeros, who married Pedro de Portocarrero, a conquistador trusted by his father-in-law, whom he accompanied during the conquests of Mexico and Guatemala. Portocarrero participated in numerous battles against the Indians.

Leonor married a second time, to Francisco de la Cueva y Guzman. The Alvarado fortune remained with their descendants for generations to come, in the family of Villacreces de la Cueva y Guzman, governors of this part of Guatemala.

• Pedro de Alvarado, who disappeared at sea when travelling to Spain
• Diego de Alvarardo, El Mestizo, who died in 1554 in the civil wars of Peru

By other women, in concealed and occasional love affairs, he had two other children:

• Gómez de Alvarado, without further notice
• Ana (Anita) de Alvarado