Beatriz de la Cueva

governor of Guatemala

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June 25, 2026

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Beatriz de la Cueva briefly served as the governor of Guatemala in 1541. She succeeded her husband, Pedro de Alvarado, a Spanish conquistador who helped conquer Mexico and Central America for Spain. Alvarado founded Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, which became the first capital of the captaincy general of Guatemala. Upon Alvarado's death, leading officials in the capital chose Doña Beatriz as his successor. However, her governorship lasted only two days, as she perished when a flood and mudslide destroyed the city on September 10, 1541. A new capital, Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala (modern Antigua Guatemala), was established nearby in 1543.12

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Central America
Appointment of Pedrarias
…1541 in Jalisco, his widow, Beatriz de la Cueva, succeeded him as governor of Guatemala, chosen by leading officials in the Guatemalan capital upon news of Alvarado’s death. The rule of Doña Beatriz, however, lasted but two days, for she died when a massive flood and mudslide destroyed the city…
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…1541 in Jalisco, his widow, Beatriz de la Cueva, succeeded him as governor of Guatemala, chosen by leading officials in the Guatemalan capital upon news of Alvarado’s death. The rule of Doña Beatriz, however, lasted but two days, for she died when a massive flood and mudslide destroyed the city…
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