Pedro Arias Dávila

Pedro Arias Dávila
1st Governor of Castilla del Oro
In office
1513 / July 1514  1526
MonarchsJoanna I
/ Charles I
Preceded byVasco Nuñez de Balboa
Succeeded byPedro de los Ríos y Gutiérrez de Aguayo
Royal Governor of Nicaragua
In office
1528–1531
MonarchCharles I
Preceded byDiego Gutiérrez de los Ríos y Aguayo
Succeeded byPedro Ramírez de Quiñones
Personal details
Bornc. 1440
Segovia, Crown of Castile
Died6 March 1531
León Viejo, Spanish Empire
SpouseMaría de Peñalosa y Bobadilla
ChildrenDiego Arias Dávila y Bobadilla
Pedro Arias Dávila y Bobadilla
Elvira de Bobadilla
María Arias de Peñalosa
Isabel Arias Dávila y Bobadilla
ProfessionMilitary, explorer, conquistador, and governor
Signature
Nickname(s)Pedrarias, el Galán, el Justador
Military service
Allegiance Spanish Empire
Branch/serviceInfantry
RankGeneral
Battles/wars

Pedro Arias de Ávila (c. 1440 – 6 March 1531; often Pedro Arias Dávila or Pedrarias Dávila) was a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator. He led the first great Spanish expedition to the mainland of the Americas. There, he served as governor of Panama (1514–1526) and Nicaragua (1527–1531), and founded Panama City (1519). He died in 1531 aged around 90 or 91.