Career

In 1545 he participated in Francisco de Orellana"s expedition up the Amazon River in search of El Dorado. García de Paredes was one of the few survivors, returning to Isla Margarita in 1546. Later he was involved in founding a number of towns in Venezuela, including Barquisimeto and Trujillo.

In 1561 he was involved in defeating the rebellion of Lope de Aguirre.

He had been on his way to take up his new post as Governor of Popayán. He was the son of the Spanish soldier and duellist Diego García de Paredes (1466–1534) (also known as "Samson of Extremadura").

Achievements

• The main scene of his achievements was in Italy, and he betook himself to it—on his own showing—not in search of glory, but because he had killed a relation of his own, Ruy Sanchez de Vargas, in a street fight arising out of a quarrel about a horse.