Losada, Diego de (1511–1569)

Diego de Losada (b. 1511; d. 1569), Spanish conquistador and founder of Caracas, Venezuela. Losada traveled to America as part of the conquistador armies. He passed through Puerto Rico and later, in 1533, joined Antonio Sendeño's expedition on the Meta River. When Sendeño was assassinated, Losada moved on to the city of Coro. From there he was sent eastward with Juan de Villegas in 1543 to search for provisions and men.

Losada later traveled to Santo Domingo and returned to Venezuela in 1546 in the company of Juan Pérez De Tolosa, governor and captain-general of the province. He took part in the founding of Nueva Segovia de Barquisimeto, received various Indian encomiendas, and performed diverse duties within the colonial administration.

In 1565 Losada was assigned the mission of subduing the Caraca Indians, a task at which others had failed. After heavy fighting, he occupied the valley of El Guaire, where he founded the city of Santiago de León de Caracas on 25 July 1567. Losada attempted to win the post of governor and captain-general of the province of Venezuela. To this end he traveled to Santo Domingo to send his petition to the king, but his attempt was unsuccessful.

See alsoCaracas; Conquistadores.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Felipe Felipe Ferrero, Don Diego de Losada, o el fundador de Caracas (1968).

José María Cruxent, La ruta de Losada (1971).

Hermano Nectario María, Diego de Losada, fundador de Caracas (Caracas, 1967).

Additional Bibliography

Angulo Perdomo, A. Oswaldo. El de Villegas: "Un gran poblador." Valencia: s.n., 2005.

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