Juan de Ampudia

Who was Juan de Ampudia?

Captain Juan de Ampudia was a Spanish explorer and conquistador.

He was born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. He participated in the Spanish founding of many towns and cities. He also took part in the conquests of Nicaragua, Perú, Ecuador y Colombia. Ampudia accompanied Pedro de Alvarado to Perú and then took part of the foundation of the city of San Francisco de Quito. His name can be read in the atrium of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Quito.

Juan de Ampudia was, with Diego de Tapia, one of the first mayors of the Quito city government. He also created the first tile factory on the side of a hill now called "El Tejar". He helped Sebastián de Benalcazar to pacify the area around Quito and killed Zopozopanqui, a local chieftain, leading to the rebellion against the Spanish. He died in Popayán.

Captain Ampudia joined Pedro de Añasco's expedition and founded the town of Timbío on November 1, 1535. He undertook many expeditions down the Cauca river where he acquired the nom de guerre "Atila del Cauca". On December 24th, 1536 he and his troops took the hill called "el Azafate" in order to secure the route that Benalcazar would take to found the city of Popayán. Under orders from Benalcazar he went after the revelling Capt. Osorio and died of spear wounds on his way back to Popayan.