Pedro de Anda


Pedro de Anda Altamirano was a Spanish conquistador, judge, and colonizer of New Spain. As a captain in the Spanish Colonial Army, de Anda helped lead the Spanish conquest of the Bajío region of Mexico during the Chichimeca War.
Following the suppression of the Chichimeca people, de Anda helped lead the colonization effort in the Jalisco Highlands and founded the Villa de Santa María de los Lagos, modern day Lagos de Moreno.

History

Pedro de Anda Altamirano was born in Spain to family of Basque nobility. He served as a captain in the colonial army of New Spain, having notably helped lead the Spanish conquest of Chichimeca people in the Bajío region of Mexico.
After the conquest of the Chichimecas, de Anda helped lead the colonization of the Jalisco Highlands in the Western Bajío region. In 1563, he and Captain Hernando Martel founded the Villa de Santa María de los Lagos, along with 73 noble Spanish families and their servants and slaves.
In 1565 Captain de Anda was given a hacienda and a land grant by the Royal Audiencia of the Kingdom of Nueva Galicia outside of Lagos de Moreno named Hacienda el Xaral, which included the famous :es:La Mesa Redonda |Mesa Redonda plateau.

Family

Dⁿ Pedro de Anda Altamirano married Dᵃ Beatriz González de Castañeda in 1565, with whom he had two sons:
Captain de Anda's descendants formed part of the colonial elite of the Jaliscan Highlands. Among his descendants include notable writers, politicians, and other prominent Mexican personalities including: