GASCA, PEDRO de la. — Spanish statesman and bishop, born at Barco de Avila in 1485, died at Valladolid on 10 November 1567.
After holding various public offices, in 1546 Charles V appointed him president of the Royal Audiencia of Peru, granting him unlimited powers and charging him with quelling the Peruvian rebellion and civil war led by Gonzalo Pizarro. Having landed in Central America, at Panama he secured the allegiance of Pedro de Hinojosa, commander of the fleet, and Fernando Pizarro, the rebel’s brother.
Having proceeded to Peru in 1547, and the negotiations initiated with Gonzalo having proved fruitless, G. assembled an army with which, on 8 April 1548, he confronted the opposing troops. After many of Pizarro’s soldiers had deserted, he was taken prisoner and subsequently beheaded together with his lieutenant Carvajal. Once the revolt had been extinguished, G. devoted himself to a swift effort at pacification, revoking excessively rigorous ordinances, introducing beneficial reforms for the Indians, replacing military administration with civil administration in the cities, and encouraging economic development, especially the exploitation of the subsoil. His government, which lasted until 1550, was considered by all beneficial and just, and G. was hailed as padre restaurador y pacificador. On returning to his homeland, he was elected bishop of Palencia (1551) and of Siqueza (1561).