Why the First Foundation of Buenos Aires failed

In the first Buenos Aires, that of Pedro de Mendoza, simple houses, made of mud and thatched roofs, predominatedexcept for that of Mendoza himself who, as a true advance, benefited from a tile roof.

Nor was there a lack of the central square and the Church, the first to spiritually supply the people. a population of around 1,200 souls.

But if the amount of spiritual supplies was sufficient, the earthly supplies were not, and The biscuit that was brought from Spain to feed the colonists began to run out.

The menu was not very attractive, “three ounces of cookies per day and one fish every three,” and everything indicates that the surrounding fauna was not enough or they did not know how to capture it. Something similar can be asked about fishing in a period in which pollution had not affected the fauna of the Riachuelo.

The truth is that the diet began to be completed with rats, snakes, shoes and the occasional Spaniard.

The settlers were not experts in obtaining supplies or in establishing good reciprocal relationships with the owners of the land they came to explore and occupy.

Instead, they made an effort to build a retaining earth wall that reached almost two and a half meters high and one meter wide, which he could not protect the newcomers from his own incompetence and arrogance.

The situation was desperate, and even more so after Mendoza’s tragic experience when he wanted to forcefully teach the natives a lesson. Nothing was going the way he wanted, and the only thing that seemed to progress was the syphilis that was killing him.

Between March and June 1537, the advance sent three expeditions in search of help and food. The results were negative.

The “Indians” killed the expedition members every time they came face to face.tea. But hunger killed the Spaniards every day, silently, and in much greater numbers.

By April 1537, all hope was lost, and Mendoza decided to organize his return to the metropolis.

His illness had progressed considerably and Nothing about the colonizing company showed signs of organization prosperous and successful.

Finally he sailed to Spain, and shortly after died on the high seas.

Meanwhile, Don Ruiz Galán had remained in the primitive Buenos Aires as lieutenant governor, trying to bring some order to the frayed population of just over 70 people.

Paradoxically, the management of Galán and The fate of this group of survivors was better than anything before.and gradually an at least organized population rose to its feet.

Three churches were built, A ship was converted into a fortress, wooden houses and a garden were made.. Things improved, but for a short time.

Human and natural issues did their thing, and Between rebellions, fruitless harvests, floods and fires, everything was dismantled again. There were few alternatives left and depopulation was one of them.

In truth, the questions were about whether to leave for Asunción, abandoning everything, or stay to maintain a necessary port.

The person most interested in concentrating the entire population in Asunción was Domingo Martínez de Irala, who orders to burn what was left of Buenos Aires to force its inhabitants in a single direction. And except for a few who fled to Brazil, the majority took the expected path.

Why did Asunción become the central nucleus of the failed Mendoza expedition?

Founded by Salazar in 1537, Asunción will present two attractive elements by then: It was supposed to be near the mythical Sierra de la Plata and it would be an important supplier of labor for any economic enterprise, including mining.