Domingo Martínez de Irala
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Domingo Martínez de Irala (c. 1509 – c. 1556), was a Spanish conquistador and colonizer.
He headed for the Americas in 1535, enrolled in the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza, and participated in the founding of Buenos Aires. He explored the Paraná River and the Paraguay River along with Juan de Ayolas. Upon the death of Ayolas in 1537, he became the governor of Río de la Plata with a seat in Asunción. In 1539 he began to move the inhabitants of Buenos Aires to Asunción, and ruled forcefully until his death around 1556. During his rule, he had churches and public buildings erected, towns established, and the native population subjugated and distributed among the colonists in encomiendas. He was succeeded by Gonzalo de Mendoza.
