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entrusted with a variety of tasks due to his
skill in communicating with Indians and sent
on a probing voyage down the coast of Cen-
tral America in 1518. Although acquisition of
land grants and status as a colonist in Cuba
had rewarded his efforts, Olid eagerly
accepted the opportunity to accompany the
expedition of H
ERNÁN
C
ORTÉS
in 1519.
Velázquez had merely authorized Cortés to
investigate the coastal regions of what is now
M
EXICO
, but when Cortés pushed boldly into
the interior and took measures that clearly
flouted the authority of the governor, Olid
wholeheartedly supported his new leader.
Olid became the most valuable and reliable
lieutenant of Cortés. He fought valiantly in
every battle of the campaign to conquer the
Aztec Empire, constantly confronting every
adversary, including the force sent by
Velázquez to restrain Cortés. Olid was desig-
nated by Cortés to carry on negotiations with
Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor, and was
granted the rank of general by the conqueror
of Moctezuma's empire. During the early
1520s, as Cortés consolidated his power over
the outlying areas of the Aztec realm, Olid
continued to play a leading role, despite the
jealousy of rivals among Cortés's officers.
However, when Olid was sent back to Cuba
to gather more men and supplies, he was
subverted in his commitment to Cortés by
Velázquez. The governor had outwardly rec-
onciled with Cortés and approved his victori-
ous activities in Mexico. He still resented the
conqueror of the Aztec, however, and incited
Olid to pursue his own ambitions. Olid suc-
cumbed to Velázquez's offers of independent
authority but remained outwardly loyal to
Cortés until he had established himself in
what is now H
ONDURAS
. Proclaiming himself
master of this territory, Olid defeated several
commanders who opposed him, including
one sent by Cortés to attack him. But Olid
was unwise enough to allow his antagonists
what amounted to a form of parole, and they
used this freedom of action to capture and
execute him.
Few of the conquistadores were as brave
in combat or resilient under wounds and
adversity as Olid. Yet he was also impulsive,
lacking in judgment, and surprisingly guile-
less. As one of his comrades commented, he
was all action without the prudence to bal-
ance his actions.
Olivares, Gaspar de Guzmán y
Pimentel, conde-duque de
(1587-1645)
Spanish statesman
Born into a family of high-ranking nobles in
A
NDALUSIA
, he was a younger son, intended
for a career in the church. Educated at the
University of Salamanca and granted sev-
eral ecclesiastical offices while still in his
teens, his circumstances changed when his
elder brothers died and he became heir to
the title and estates. Count of Olivares from
1607, he was subsequently created duke of
Sanlúcar but chose to preserve the tradi-
tional title under the designation of count-
duke of Olivares and was usually referred to
by contemporary Spaniards as the
conde-
duque.
Olivares lived on a grand scale,
indulging his many interests, including
horsemanship and bullfighting, but also
thought of himself as a literary man and was
a patron of notable artists and writers of his
day. During the last years of P
HILIP
III's reign
he challenged the dominance of the duke of
L
ERMA
. When P
HILIP
IV ascended the throne
in 1621, Olivares replaced Lerma as chief
minister and confidant of the monarch.
As the dominant figure in Spanish poli-
tics between 1621 and 1643, Olivares was
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