GONZALO SUAREZ RENDÓN

Gonzalo Suárez Rendón: From Soldier of Charles V to Founder of Tunja (1539)Born in Málaga (1503), a veteran of imperial wars in Italy, Hungary, and Tunisia. In 1536, he survived the brutal Magdalena expedition, where 621 of 800 men died. He founded Tunja on August 6, 1539, on the Muisca territory of Hunza. He lived there for 44 years until his death in 1583 at the age of 80, an exceptional age for the time.He married Mencía de Figueroa, with whom he had three legitimate children.He recognized his daughter with an indigenous Peruvian woman as his heir.After his death, Mencía married Juan Núñez de la Cerda. Their son, Miguel, would later complete the mural paintings in this house.