Juan Ortiz de Zárate

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Juan Ortiz de Zárate (c. 1521–1575) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He journeyed to the Americas as a teenager, where he took part in the conquest of Peru under Diego de Almagro.

He returned to Spain and was appointed the third Adelantado of the Río de la Plata region, with the goal of exploring and populating the lands, founding towns, and bringing cattle and horses. His expedition left the port of San Lúcar de Barrameda in October 1572 but reached the mouth of the Plata more than a year later, disembarking at the location of present-day Colonia, Uruguay.

The Charrúa aboriginals were friendly at first, but then Zárate attempted to submit then and was attacked. His forces had to seek shelter at the Martín García Island and request help from Juan de Garay, who had just founded the city of Santa Fe. Garay promptly came to the rescue, and the combined forces defeated the Charrúas. Ortiz de Zárate was forced to leave a permanent guard at the settlement, while he marched to Asunción to assume his post as governor and captain of the Giant Province of the Indies.

He held this office until his death, in 1575. He was succeeded by Juan Torres de Vera y Aragón, his son-in-law (married to his daughter Juana).