Ochoa Álvarez de Isasaga

Ochoa Álvarez de Isásaga (also spelled "Ysasaga") was born around 1470 in Villafranca de Ordizia, Spain. "Ochoa" (Basque: Otxoa) is a Basque patronymic name originally given in Medieval Spain meaning "the wolf."

Born into one of the oldest noble houses in Europe, Isásaga began working for the interests of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I and later on rose to the seat of power for the Spanish Empire at a time when Spain was the unrivaled superpower of the world.

Very early on, Isásaga won the trust of many kings, queens, princes and nobles of his time. By the time he was 27 years old, Isásaga was named Factor for the Crown, and he was instrumental in the rise and longevity of the Spanish Empire. Later, named Chief of the Supreme Council of the Indies, and Knight of the Order of Santiago.

Ancient Noble House of Isásaga (Casa e Solar de Isásaga)

The Solar House of Isásaga (Casa e Solar de Isásaga) is an ancient Basque noble house that descends from tribal heads of both the pre-Roman 1st century AD Vascones and the earlier 1st century BC Aquitani people. Isásaga was born into the system of titles and honors that make up the Spanish nobility of the former kingdoms that constitute modern Spain (Castile and Aragon).

House Isásaga coat of arms and origins

House Isásaga, originally from the town of Oñate (Guipúzcoa), their coat of arms is displayed on their weapons, which display a field of gold, with a broom of sinople, called in Basque "Isásaga," and a wild boar of saber at the foot and two dogs preying upon it, one at the boar's neck and at the boar's leg.

The Isásaga coat of arms proclaims the following values: Gold is the symbol of the Sun, origin of life, its spiritual characteristics correspond to faith, clemency, temperance, charity and justice, on the other hand this enamel points to the family with happiness, love, nobility and splendor, that is, it is the noblest of metals. The saber-toothed wild boar symbolizes bravery and a willingness to fight to the death. The dogs are the emblem of faithfulness and guardianship in heraldry. The warring dogs and the boar symbolize the inner struggle of the brave and the stubborn versus the balance of faithfulness and guardianship.

Spanish Empire, Chief of the Supreme Council of the Indies

Isásaga's loyalty, political sagacity, and shrewd financial mind made him one of the most trusted men in the Spanish Empire, leading to his meteoric rise to several key royal positions across Europe.

Appointment to the Casa de Contratación

Perhaps one of Isásaga's most notable appointments was granted by King Ferdinand "the Catholic" and Queen Joanna I of Castile in 1509 who named him "factor" (person who collected the rents for the Crown). Isásaga eventually was named "Chief Official" of the Casa de la Contratación de Indias located in Seville.^[1] In theory, no Spaniard could sail anywhere without the approval of the Casa.

As the Chief of the Supreme Council of the Indies, officially, the Royal and Supreme Council of the Indies (Real y Supremo Consejo de las Indias), Isásaga acted as head of the most important administrative organ of the Spanish Empire for the Americas and the Philippines.

In his position as Chief, Isásaga oversaw the collection of gold, silver and other resources from the New World. On behalf of the Crown, Isásaga held absolute power over the New World wealth, with the Council of the Indies acting as the undisputed administrative and advisory body for those overseas realms.

Authority taken from Christopher Columbus for tyrannical abuses

Prior to power given to Isásaga as Chief Official of the Council of the Indies, Queen Isabella had granted extensive authority to Christopher Columbus, but then withdrew that authority, and established direct royal control, putting matters of the Indies in the hands of Royal and Supreme Council of the Indies.

Treasury and sword

After the death of Ferdinand II, Charles became the King of Spain (Castile and Aragon) in 1516, and later becoming "Charles V," Holy Roman Emperor in 1519, over one of the largest empires, the Spanish Empire, in European and world history.

It was during this period that the Supreme Council of the Indies, under Isásaga, was at the peak of power. The Bishop of Badajoz, Ruiz de la Mota, who was an influential member of the Royal Council and declared that the Council of the Indies was to be the empire's "treasury and sword" - with Isásaga as its head.

Letters to Ochoa de Isásaga, Chief of the Supreme Council of the Indies

Regarding his time as Chief, Isásaga received many letters from notable explorers in the New World, many of which are preserved to this day including the only known hand-written letters in Juan Ponce de León's own hand, a Spanish explorer and conquistador known for leading the first official European expedition to Florida and seeking the "Fountain of Youth."

Letter written by Juan Ponce de León which sold for $515,500 USD:
- One of the earliest extant letters from the New World and one of only five known letters of Juan Ponce de León and the only known letter written in Juan Ponce de León's own private hand.
- Describes the early phases of Spanish exploration and conquest in the years immediately following Columbus's epic voyages.

Recently, Christie's auction house sold six letters written to Ochoa de Isásaga^[2] of the Supreme Council of the Indies, from four different Spanish Conquistadores, two of whom had sailed on Columbus's second voyage which sold for $138,000 USD. The letters were addressed to "Noble e Virtuoso Comendador Ochoa de Isásaga, Factor de la casa de Contratacion en Sevilla" while Isásaga was the Chief of the Council, penned sometime between 1508 and 1514. Juan Ponce de León's letter describes the Indian Revolts of 1511 and 1513.

Close ties to European royalty

Isásaga's close relationships with the European kings, queens, princes and noble houses is evident by the voluminous public and private correspondence^[3] that have been preserved between Ochoa Alvarez de Isásaga and the various kings, queens, princes and nobility across Europe.

Among the lengthy list of royal letters are letters from Queen Isabella I of Castille, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, Queen Joanna I of Castille, Queen Maria, Queen Consort of Manuel I, King of Portugal, Queen Regnant of Portugal, Doña María I, Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, Catherine of Aragon, wife of Henry VIII, Queen Mary I of England, King of France, Francis I, Holy Roman Empress Isabella of Portugal Queen of Spain and Germany, Lady of the Netherlands and Queen of Italy, and many others.

Knight of the Order of Santiago

In 1510, King Ferdinand II granted Isásaga Knighthood in the Order of Santiago (Orden de Santiago) in gratitude for Isásaga's service to the Crown.

St. James' Cross

Isásaga wore the Order's insignia, a red cross resembling a sword, with the shape of a fleur-de-lis on the hilt and the arms. The three fleurs-de-lis represent the "honor without stain", which is in reference to the moral features of the Apostle's character.

Council of War

On January 10, 1523, Emperor Charles V wrote a letter to Isásaga expressing gratitude for Isásaga's service with the Holy Roman Empire's Council of War, along with Isásaga's brother, García Álvarez de Isásaga.

At this time in the early sixteenth century, the balance of power in Western Europe was a delicate dance between France, the Holy Roman Empire (modern day Germany) and England. There were three strong personalities who each sought the advantage: King François I of France, the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and King Henry VIII of England.

During this time, both the Spanish Empire and the Holy Roman Empire's relations with France remained tense. Charles V elicited the help of Isásaga to broker the peace between France and the Holy Roman Empire.

Hostage of the Sons of the King François I of France, Dauphin François, the third Duke of Brittany and Henry II of France

As one of the most trusted men in Europe, Isásaga, Knight of the Order of Santiago ("Honor Without Stain") was entreated to personally return of the sons of the King of France in 1530.

King Francis taken prisoner

In February of 1525, King Francis I of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor captured the King of France, and held prisoner in Pavia and later in Spain. The King of France offered a cash ransom in exchange for his release.

But the Emperor, under the advice and counsel of Isásaga who served on the Council of War, insisted that all the territories formerly belonging to his great-grandfather, Charles the Bold be returned, including the return of the Province of Burgundy.

Since Francis I was being held by the Emperor, the French King's mother, Louise of Savoy, acted as regent in his stead. Negotiations ensured between Louise and Charles V, but Louis refused to secede any French territory.

Treaty of Madrid of 1526

Things for France took a dark turn when suddenly, during his captivity, Francis I became gravely ill, and ultimately, Louise of Savoy, King Francis' mother agree to hand over Burgundy and the other disputed French territory. The agreement was signed on January 14, 1526 known as "the Treaty of Madrid."

The treaty heavily favored the Holy Roman Empire, and King Francis I returned all French territories won by Charles the Bold. France also lost their rights to Milan, Genoa and Naples.

Royal marriage between France and the Holy Roman Empire

France further agreed to abandon any feudal claims to Artois and Flanders. In addition to the return of these territories, Francis I agreed to marry the Emperor's sister Eleanor of Austria.

More crusades

France also agreed to provide a French naval fleet to accompany Charles V to Rome for his Imperial coronation and agreed to join the Emperor on a crusade against the German Lutherans and the Ottoman Turks.

Hostage assurance

Although the treaty was signed, Charles V demanded extra assurances from France which included taking the two sons of the King of France hostage. The two boys were the Dauphin François (9 years old) and Henri, duc d'Orléans (7 years old). The nations agreed that the boys were to be held hostage in Spain until the terms of the treaty was fulfilled.

French royal sons taken hostage

On February 17, 1526, King Francis I handed the boys over to Charles V as hostages. The boys were given to Charles V in the middle of the Bidasoa River in Spain and under the walls of Fuenterrabia, a small Spanish town in the Basque region.

To ensure the boys safety, Isásaga ordered all people to be cleared from the bay for ten miles on either side. 1000 troops were placed on guard. The Kings met at the platform, Francis I was exchanged for his two sons.

Trust placed in Isásaga by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and King François I of France

Already in his retirement in Ordizia but still acting as a mediator between the various European royal courts, Charles V and Francis I both trusted Isásaga to ensure the safe return of the hostages.

On July 2, 1530, Isásaga traveled to Fuenterrabia to Spain to personally oversee the safe return of the two French princes, Francis III, now 13, and Henri, duc d'Orléans, now 11.

Isásaga arrived to meet King Francis I with the news that he brought the boys. Per Charles V's instructions, Isásaga delivered the princes and his future wife, Eleanor of Austria, to a small abbey near Villeneuve-de-Marsan, where just before dawn, King Francis I and Eleanor were married.

Letter from Empress of the Carnation to Isásaga, Knight of the Order of Santiago

Regarding Isásaga's participation, Holy Roman Empress Isabella of Portugal Queen of Spain and Germany, Lady of the Netherlands and Queen of Italy wrote a letter to him in gratitude for his role and for the safe return of the French princes.^[4]

Post-retirement activities

While in retirement, Isásaga remained in active council for the Emperor and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, and the kings, queens, princes, and nobles across Europe.

Ochoa Alvarez de Isásaga never forgot his province, nor Villafranca his place of origin. In 1516 after voluntarily leaving his work in Seville, he retired to Guipúzcoa to work for the interests of the province.

He retired in the province and Villafranca, he made his will and last will before the notary Ochoa de Urdaneta in 1548 but continued to live a full and productive life for many more years. After 1548, Isásaga devoted his time to the affairs of his family, and to the local needs of the village, spending his final years to carry out these tasks.

Death

In 1555, Isásaga died peacefully in his hometown of Villafranca, the city of his birth, at the age of 85 years old.

Other notable Isásagas

Pedro de Isásaga was commander of Rhodes in 1507, who was great friend of Christopher Columbus, he was appointed to replace León Pinelo in the position of official judge, pointing out 100,000 reais in 1515.^[5]

Juan López de Isásaga was field master and knight of the Order of Calatrava, in 1617.

Buenaventura de Isásaga of the order of Calatrava, governor of the province of Pisco, Peru, Lord of Sajuela, Miranda de Ebro, around the year 1707.

Lope de Isásaga, 1493 described as "a man of very relevant gifts," who in the early years of the sixteenth century was commissioned by Ferdinand the Catholic to negotiate with the Portuguese and resolve the questions that existed in Morocco between them and the Castilians, especially in relation to the possession and dominion of Agadir, better known in our days with the name of Santa Cruz de Mar Pequeña.

Notably, like Ochoa de Isásaga, Lope was given Spanish equivalent (Latin lupus) of the Basque given name "Ochoa" (meaning "the Wolf"), was born among Gascon lords in the High Middle Ages.

Martín de Isásaga, nephew of Ochoa de Isásaga, Spanish Conquistador, Nobleman of Spanish Empire, knight of the Order of Santiago, traveled to the New World in the Second Voyage of Columbus 1493.^[6]

García Álvarez de Isásaga, brother of Ochoa de Isásaga, served on the Holy Roman Empire's Council of War in 1523.

References

[1] OCHOA ALVAREZ DE YSASAGA, PROTAGONIST OF THE CYCLE "KNOWING THE HISTORY OF VILLAFRANCA" - ORDIZIAKO UDALA

[2] "[NEW WORLD, SPANISH EXPLORATION, PUERTO RICO]. Six autograph letters (Five signed), to Ochoa de Isásaga of the Supreme Council of the Indies, from four different Spanish Conquistadores, two of whom had sailed on Columbus's 2nd Voyage: JUAN CERÓN. Autograph letter signed, Isla de San Juan [San Juan Bautista: Puerto Rico], November 25 [1511], 2 pp. -- MIGUEL DIAZ DE AUX. Autograph letter signed, San Juan, 14 November 1511, ½ p. -- MARTÍN DE ISÁSAGA. Autograph letter signed, San Juan [n.y., but 1511] March 25, 2¼ pp.; MARTÍN DE ISÁSAGA. Autograph letter signed, Ciudad de Puerto Rico de la Ysla de San Juan [n.y., but 1513] September, 3½ pp.; -- DIEGO DE ARCE. Autograph letter signed, Caparra [San Juan,] 15 October [1511], 2 pp.; -- DIEGO DE ARCE. Autograph letter (Signature defective), San Juan, June [1513], 2pp., a few lines at bottom defective.; original cover sheet dated December 1511; all to "Noble e Virtuoso Comendador Ochoa de Isasaga, Factor de la casa de Contratacion en Sevilla." Together 12¼ pages, folio and 4to, scattered defects, occasionally catching a few letters text, some stains. In Spanish, all with a full transcript and translation. THE EARLIEST SURVIVING LETTERS FROM PUERTO RICO, SOME FROM COMPANIONS OF COLUMBus's SECOND VOYAGE (1493), WRITTEN DURING THE EARLY PERIOD OF PUERTO RIco's CONQUEST, COLONIZATION AND PACIFICATION [1508-1514] UNDER JUAN PONCE DE LEÓN, DESCRIBING THE INDIAN REVOLTS OF 1511 AND 1513 Newly discovered and wholly unpublished letters constitute the only personal letters from the island at this date and contain some of the only first-hand accounts of critical post-foundation events there. (No documents of Juan Ponce de León during the conquest of the island are extant, and no historian cites any letter written on the island prior to 1515). Christobal Columbus landed on the Island of San Juan in November 1493 during his second voyage, and it was only in 1508 that Juan Ponce de León began exploration, conquest and pacification. During 1508-1514, it was under the governance of Friar Nicolás Ovando and Admiral Diego Columbus (Son of the discoverer). The addressee of these letters, Ochoa de Isásaga, was at the time chief official of the Supreme Council of the Indies. Letter 1: Juan Cerón was on Columbus's 2nd voyage when Puerto Rico was discovered and, went with Ponce de León to San Juan in 1508 (See: E.Schafer, Índice de la Colección de Documentos Inéditos de Indias, Madrid, 1946, vol.1, p.11; Tesauro de Datos Históricos de Puerto Rico, 1992, vol.2, p.71; G.Cabrera, Puerto Rico y su Historia Íntima, 1997, vol.1, p.63). Cerón had been sent to replace Ponce de León; he reports on a rough voyage and a FATAL ENCOUNTER WITH HOSTILE CARIBS: "we dropped anchor at the island of Guadalupe, for we thought that there were Christians there...some Caribs set upon us...killed one of the French Friars...as well as a young barber, and in the island no Christian was found..." Cerón is critical of Ponce de León: "we came to this island of San Juan where we found very poor efforts to collect your Highness's treasure...after I took the office of Governor ("tomado las varas de la justicia"). In July 1511, the King, disappointed by the gold production of la Hispaniola, had instructed Cerón (Still in Spain) that a third of the Indians must be sent to the mines (See E.Fernández, "Las Encomiendas y Esclavitud de los Indios de Puerto Rico 1508-1550," in Estudios Lascasianos, 1966, p.396). Mindful of these orders, he vows to "have as many people as possible taken to the mines"; blaming Ponce de León, he reports that only 13 of 1300 Indians were in the gold-mines, and so "very little gold has yet been extracted." He reports on the revolt of Cacique Agueybana II (January-June 1511): "the Indians...are unwilling to be at peace and have killed close to one hundred Christians....two Indians and two Christians were in a mine and the Indians murdered one and tried to kill the other." Cerón has tried to pacify them, assuring the caciques "that we will not take away what is theirs and that they will be reasonably treated as they were before." (The reference to the revolt confirms the date of 1511.) Letter 2: Miguel Díaz [de Aux], also on Columbus's 2nd voyage, discovered the mines of San Cristóbal, la Hispaniola and was co-founder of la Isabela (Santo Domingo); Governor and Mayor of San Juan in 1509, jailed by order of Ponce de León, then reinstated in 1511 (Endorsement here terms him "Alguacil of San Juan"). Later in Mexico, he joined Francisco de Garay to oppose Hernán Cortés. Here, he reports that he is about to sail and prays for fair weather and a safe voyage. See Diccionario de Historia de España, 1952, vol.1, p.1204; C.O.Sauer, Descubrimiento y Dominacion Española en el Caribe, 1984, p.16; C.Varela, Cristóbal Colón, Textos y Documentos Completos, 1992, pp.514-516; C.Varela, Colón y los Florentinos, 1988, pp.119-120; P.Boyd-Boyman, Índice Geobiografico de cuarenta mil Pobladores Españoles de América, 1964, vol.1, p.70). Letter 3: Martín de Isásaga came to Puerto Rico in 1510 and played a key role in the two Carib rebellions (1511 and 1513), commanding the defense of Caparra; in 1515 he was Procurator of San Juan and Cristobal de Sotomayor's lieutenant (See A.Tapia, Biblioteca Histórica de Puerto Rico, 1945, p.153; A.Tió, Nuevas Fuentes para la Historia de Puerto Rico, 1961, p.175; Boyd-Bowman, op.cit., p.58). The letter gives first-hand reports on the uprising of Agueybana II and the murder of Don Christobal de Sotomayor: "his cacique beat him...to death and did the same with many others that arrived, because they were Christians...they were murdered in the middle of the night while sleeping in their beds..."; Isásaga adds that "the Indians rose in arms afterwards...and they have declared war and say that they do not want to serve the Christians." the killing of Sotomayor, noted by chronicler Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo, was said to have occurred in February 1511 (Fernández, op.cit., p.392). Isásaga mentions Ponce de León and reports that the uprising there had kept him from administrative tasks: "there was no chance to inform the Governor [Ponce de León until November 1511] for he had gone to war, and so has not responded." He requests slaves and horses for the mines, since there as so few Indians: "if your worship believes the Indians do not perform well, a couple of horses can be sent to haul bread to the mines and with them two pair of negroes [bozales] for the mines..." Letter 4: Isásaga reports to his uncle on the second Carib rebellion. Diego Columbus had established Viceregal headquarters on the island (2 June 1513 to 1515), (Tió, op. Cit., p.149) but was an ineffective administrator. Isásaga complains of a dispute over Indians with Governor Juan Cerón, and of the greed of Diego Columbus: "I am very well...but without the Indians I used to have, for it is my misfortune since coming to the island that I have been allotted no Indians, not because Juan Ponce de León did not give me any but because I fell into the hands of this devil Don Juan Ceron." Columbus "came to this island but it would have been better if he had not, for all he cares for is Indians and how to take them away from those to whom the King had given them. So he has left the island upside-down..." He reports Cerón's authority has been revoked, and describes an Indian attack in which 13 persons died from poisoned arrows. Letter 5: Diego de Arz[c]e, the first mining inspector sent to Puerto Rico was chosen by King Ferdinand to oversee the smelter at Caparra. Sworn in by Governor Juan Ponce de León on 9 May, he helped defend San Juan in the two rebellions of the Taino and Carib Indians (Fernández., op cit., p.15; A.Tanodi, Documentos de la Real Hacienda de Puerto Rico, 1971, vol.1, pp.20,23, 30,35-36). Here he is strongly critical of the rule of Ponce DeLeón, who "has been governing so long that he only serves his own interests"; Juan Cerón and Miguel Díaz are to succeed him, but Ponce de León "has collected for himself as much as possible," has "appropriated for himself some peaceful Indians and others to his relatives" and "refused to behave like an officer of the King or a man of honor." (The references to Governor Ponce de León and the arrival of Cerón and Díaz confirms that the letter was written in 1511.) Arce also criticizes Ponce de León for neglecting to send "Indians belonging to his Majesty to the mines, so that we get almost nothing." Meanwhile, the island has risen in arms. Arce offers detailed advice on the assignment of Indians to various caciques, promises to "take care of the business of the King" and mentions Juan Bono [de Quejo], who came with Christopher Columbus's 4th voyage (1502), resided on the island from 1510 and later went with Ponce de León on the exploration of Florida. Letter 6: Another report from Arce, on the Carib revolt of June 1513, while he and Diego Columbus were in San German: "on Saturday...the Indians that are at war had found out that most of the Christians in this town of San German were working in the smelter with the Admiral and they came and burnt down [the city of] Puerto Rico, setting eight houses on fire and killing and wounding more than 20 persons, and if it had not been for a stone house of Juan Ponce de León, I believe no one would have survived" (On this rising in June 1513, see Fernández., op. Cit., p.407; R.Cassá, Indios de las Antillas, 1993, p.254). "Much property of many people was burnt, and we believe the King's books [ledgers?] were lost since the houses where they were kept were burnt." He deplores the Indians' use of poison "yerva" on arrows, explains that "the little men are very fierce" and asks for a negro kitchen slave to be sent to feed the miners, as most of the inhabitants are bearing arms. He adds that Martín de Isásaga has contracted a sexual disease (Syphilis, known as Bubas), "is recovering ...but is now in dire straights since the Caribs have burned down his house." Closing, he tells Isásaga that he is sending tropical parrots "and will send some more when there is another ship." (6)".

[3] "Real Biblioteca Koha › Resultados de la búsqueda para 'an:80202'".

[4] áLvarez De Isasaga, Ochoa; MartíNez De Ondarza, Andrés (1530). "Letter from Empress Isabella to Ochoa de Isasaga, entreating him to carry out Charles V's orders to go to Fuenlabrada to deliver "certain royal persons" and to personally meet them and accompany time until the delivery is made". Colección de Documentos Reales Dirigidos a Ochoa Álvarez de Isasaga]. [Ii/3284.

[5] Vascongados Patriots: Tower-palace of Isásaga in Azkoitia and his lineage of Isásaga

[6] Juan Ponce de Leon His New and Revised Genealogy - Google Books

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