Gaspar de Saldaña

Brief Biography: 
Gaspar de Saldaña was a native of Guadalajara, Spain (Guadalajara province) and the son of Juan de Saldaña and María de Salcedo. Gaspar accompanied Viceroy Mendoza to New Spain in 1535, served on his personal guard, and again accompanied Mendoza to Peru in 1551. Gaspar was present at the 1540 muster as an unassigned horseman and was probably equipped for the Expedition by the viceroy. After the death of Mendoza in Peru, he made his way to Bolivia.
Title: 
Caballero Hijodalgo
Gender: 
Male
Title (Y/N): 
Yes
Date of Birth: 
1520
AGE-1540: 
20
Age Set: 
15-25
Birthplace
Country of Origin: 
Spain
Place of Birth (modern province/state/region): 
Guadalajara
Place of Birth (City/Town): 
Guadalajara
View Birthplace on Map: 
Click to View on Map
Died on the Expedition?: 
No
Last Known Location: 
Charcos and Potosí, Bolivia
European Social Status: 
Hidalgo
Position on Expedition: 
Horseman
Within Viceroy Mendoza's Sphere: 
Yes
Pre-Expedition Occupation: 
Mendoza Guard
Post Expedition Occupation: 
Corregidor
Justicia mayor
Residence After Expedition: 
Mexico City, Peru, Bolivia
Ability to sign name: 
Yes
Relatives: 
father: Juan de Saldaña; mother:María de Salcedo
References-Documentary: 

1530-1540:

AGI, Pasajeros, L.2, E.1264 [June 26, 1535: Gaspar de Saldaña, hijo de Juan de Saldaña y de María de Salcedo, vecinos de Guadalajara, a Nueva España, con el Visorey = Boyd-Bowman, Indice geobiográfico, II:4665 [with the viceroy to México, 1535] [father, Juan de Santa María de Salcedo];

AGI, Justicia, 259, pieza 2 [visita a don Antonio de Mendoza] [as footman: 4 Sept. 1537, fol. 49r-49v, 2 Jan. 1538, fol. 49v-50r, 13 June 1538, fol. 50v, 6 Sept 1538, fol. 51r-51v, 4 Jan 1539, fol. 51v-52r, 19 Sept 1539, fol. 53r];

AGI, Justicia, 258, pieza 1, “Relación de los salarios” [fol. 798v: Nov. 1539, a gaspar de saldaña...Lx pesos]

1540-1550:

1540, Feb: Muster in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 12 [2 horses, native armor]

AGI, Justicia, 259, pieza 2 [visita a don Antonio de Mendoza] [as horseman 11 Jan 1540, fol. 53v, 3 Dec 1543 [42], fol. 58r-58v and 3 Sept 1543, fol. 59r list Gaspar de Saldaña as member of Mendoza’s personal guard];

AGI, Justicia, 269, Pieza 6 [witness in 1543 in Ciudad de México is Gaspar Saldaña, estante en México, previously in Guadalajara, knew father of murder victim, can sign his name (signed)];

“Further Defense” in Flint, Great Cruelties [p.439: Saldaña testifies that he saw the events at Pueblo del Arenal, thus in the Advanced Guard];

AGI, Justicia, 258, pieza 1, “Relación de los salarios” [fol. 828r: a gaspar de saldaña...May 23, 1545...cxx pesos];

AGI, Contaduría, 1784, N.4 [1542-47, Cuentas de García de Salcedo veedor of Lima; socorro de la gente que fue con Gasca; Descargo: delivery to Gaspar de Saldaña, soldado in the compania of Licencado Quiñones]

1550-1560:

AGI, Justicia, 1021, N.2, Pieza 2, “Relación sacada de la probanza, 1551” [witness Domingo Gaspar de Saldaña; could be an error, next witness is Domingo Martin];

AGI, Justicia, 1021, N.2, Pieza 5, “Relación sacada de la probanza, 1551” [witness Saldaña, vecino or estante de México, natural de Guadalajara, more than 25 years old] [could sign his name (no signature)]; pieza 6 [México, January 10, 1547; Saldaña, natural de Guadalajara, hijo de (missing) Saldaña, estante en México, more than 25 years old, 27 he says in his other testimony] [says that in Tiguex López wanted to put up ranchos de pajas but because the winter was already upon them he asked the Indians to accommodate them in the pueblo] [could sign his name (no signature on copy)]

1560-1570:

AGI, Patronato, 110, R.7\1 [image 17-23: 1563, méritos y servicios, Gaspar de Saldaña, Nueva España y Perú] [begin with image 17, a first person narrative that serves as interrogatorio] [yo sali de los rreynos de españa en Compania de don Antonio de mendoça, 1535] [Saldaña resided in Nueva España for 16 years “en su aconpañamyento sin darme salario] [vecino de México] [por su mandado fui al descubrimiento de las siete ciudades en Conpanya de francisco Vázquez coronado] [para adereçarme para ella gaste mucha suma de pesos de oro E cavallos y armas y otros pertrechos] [went to Peru in Mendoza’s entourage (en su compañia y en su casa)] [was in Cuzco at the time of the revolt of Francisco Hernández Jirón; escaped and fled to Lima] [went back to fight Hernández  “debajo del estandarte rreal...comprando de nueVo armas y cavallos y esclavos”] [soy caballero hijodalgo] [Saldaña could sign his name] [witnesses: Antonio de Osnaio; Gil Ramírez Davalos, Cipio Ferrara, Pedro de Mieres, Bernaldino de Loaysa; second group of witnesses: Diego de los Rios, Captain Diego Maldonado, Arias Maldonado, Pedro de Urrea (this is Pedro López de Urrea) [Osnaio says “vio e visto en la çiudad de México de la vuelta que Volvio con el governador coronado pedidos y destrosados y todos los mas Vestidos de pelleZos de anymales”] [Gil Ramírez Dávalos also came to Nueva España with Mendoza] [1570, Saldaña is vecino, corregidor, and justicia mayor de la ciudad de la plata e vylla ynperial de potosi de la provincia de los charcas] [Urrea says Saldaña took two horses on the expedition to Cíbola; este testigo ansimismo fue a la jornada; Saldaña “era sobresaliente del dicho capitan general”]

?AGI, Contratación, 202A, N.1 [fol. 22r: The property of Alonso de Ulloa, 29 May 1560, La Plata, the deceased owes Gaspar de Saldaña 20 pesos; [fol.24v] Juan Ramos, mayordomo of the hospital in La Plata received 40 pesos of silver from the estate, he signed the receipt; [fol.26r] Gonzalo Sánchez, mayordomo of the cofradia de la Vera Cruz, La Plata, received from the estate 16 pesos and was witnessed by Juan de Ribadeneyra, 17 March 1559; [fol.27r] Benítez received 200 fanegas of corn and a fanega of wheat from the estate, signed his name "Benítez", no signature); [fol.27v] Gaspar de Saldaña signs his receipt for the 20 pesos for the 40 cestos of coca that was agreed to in 1557];