Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 01.djvu/490

ALVA. the forest, and but rarely in a human being." The German historian, Ludwig Häusser, calls Alva "the hangman of the Netherlands." Consult: J. L. Motley, Rise of the Dutch Republic (New York. 1836); Rustant, Historia de Don Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, duque de Alva (Madrid, 1751).

ALVARADO, iil'va-ra'oo. A seaport in the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico, at the mouth of the Alvarado River, 40 miles southeast of Vera Cruz (Map: Mexico, L 8). The harbor is well sheltered, but is too shallow for vessels of more than 13 feet draught, and the climate is very unhealthful because of the surrounding swamps. Its exports are rice and cacao. Pop., about 4000.

ALVARADO, or  (?-1554). A Spanish soldier of the sixteenth century. He was born at Burgos, served under Cortes in the conquest of Mexico, and under Pizarro in that of Peru. In 1537 he was sent to Chile against the rebel Almagro, but at the Abancay River was defeated by Orgoñez. In 1548, under Gasca, he assisted in suppressing the revolt of Gonzalo Pizarro. He was appointed Captain-General of La Plata and Potosi, but was vanquished by the malcontent Giron in 1554, and died not long after.

ALVARADO, Pedro de (? — 1541). A Spanish adventurer, a companion of Cortes, and afterward conqueror of Guatemala. He was born at Badajoz, in Spanish Estremadura. In 1517 or 1518, he sailed for the New World, and in the latter year was dispatched from Cuba, by Velasquez, the governor of that island, to explore, under the command of Grijalva, the shores of the American continent, when for the first time the Spaniards heard of the riches of Montezuma, and of his vast empire. In February, 1519, Alvarado sailed with Cortes from Havana for the conquest of Mexico, in which Alvarado played a part second only to Cortes. His blue eyes and blond beard strengthened the impression among the dusky Aztecs that the invaders were "children of the sun," descendants of Quetzlcoatl, who were looked for to resume the dominion of the ancient royal house in Mexico. While he held the city of Mexico, during the absence of his chief, he massacred in the midst of a fête a great number of Aztec nobles. In the night retreat of July 1, 1520, the noche triste, Alvarado commanded the rear-guard, and saved his life by a famous leap, the "salto de Alvarado," which he accomplished with the aid of his long spear across a wide breach in the causeway along which the retreating Spaniards were being driven. After the conquest of Mexico, he was sent, in 1523, to subdue the tribes on the coast of the Pacific in the direction of Guatemala. He was completely successful, and returned to Spain, where the Emperor Charles V. appointed him Governor of Guatemala. Pizarro and Almagro were then prosecuting a brilliant career of conquest in South America. Alvarado did not intend to intrude on their territories, but as he considered the province of Quito to be without the limits of these, he landed with a force of five hundred soldiers at Bahía de los Caraques, whence he penetrated into the heart of the country, crossing the Andes by a bold and hazardous march. In the plain of Rio Bamba, he was met by some of the troops of Pizarro, headed by Almagro, and agreed to retire on receiving an indemnity. Subsequently he received the government of Honduras in addition to Guatemala. He perished in an affray with the Indians near Guadalajara in western Mexico in 1541, crushed under his fallen horse.

ALVAREZ, al'va'ra', (1860—). A French vocalist. He was born at Bordeaux. He was first in the army as a musical conductor: afterward he studied at the Conservatoire, Paris, and appeared as an operatic tenor. He first sang at the Paris Opera in 1892, and soon became the leading tenor of the Opera. In 1893 he appeared in Covent Garden, London. He visited the United States in 1898-99 and 1900. The unanimous approval with which he met in Europe was not wholly confirmed in this country. His repertoire includes no less than forty-five operas, in eleven of which he created the principal parts.

ALVAREZ, al-va'reth, (1768-1827). A Spanish sculptor. He was born April 23, 1768, at Priego, in the province of Cordova. During his youth he labored with his father, a stone mason, and when twenty years old began to study drawing and sculpture in the Academy of Granada. His early essays in sculpture soon attracted attention, and in 1794 he was received into the Academy of San Fernando, at Madrid, where, in 1799, he gained the first prize in the first class. A royal pension having enabled him to pursue his studies at Paris, he gained the second prize for sculpture in the Institute, and in 1804 increased his celebrity by a plaster model of Ganymede, which proved that he could rival Canova in gracefulness of style. Having removed to Rome, he was employed by Napoleon to design bas-reliefs for the Quirinal Palace on Monte Cavallo; but on account of political changes, his works were not allowed to occupy the places for which they had been destined. In Rome, where he lived on terms of friendship with Canova and Thorwaldsen, he executed, among other works, his colossal group, now in the Royal Museum of Madrid, representing a scene in the defense of Saragossa. This work alone is sufficient to establish Alvarez's fame. Clearness of design, dignified simplicity in execution, trueness to nature, and deep sentiment mark the sculptures of Alvarez, who, next to nature and classical antiquity, studied most the works of Michelangelo. He died in Madrid, November 26, 1827.

ALVAREZ, (1780-1867). A Mexican general of Indian descent. He instigated the revolt which deposed Santa Anna (q.v.) in July. 1855, and succeeded Carrera as President in September, but, through the dissatisfaction of the clergy and army, he resigned before the end of the year. He was afterward one of the most determined opponents of Maximilian (q.v.).

ALVARY, al-vii're. (1858-98). The stage name of a famous German dramatic tenor. He was born at Düsseldorf; his father was an eminent landscape painter, Andreas Achenbach. He studied singing with Lamperti and Julius Stockhausen of Frankfort, but owing to his father's opposition to his going on the stage, did not make his début until 1882, at Weimar, in Stradella. He came to this country in 1884, and made his first appearance as José in Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. During his five years' engagement here he developed, partly under Seidl's guidance, into a Wagner singer, his finest rôles being Loge, in