Who is Menendez de Aviles from The Everglades: River of Grass and what is their importance?

Menendez de Aviles was a Spanish seaman, lord, fighter and leader. He was extremely loyal of the kind. He was born to an improvised noble house. His family married him to a ten year old girl, Maria de Solis, when he was eight years old. At the age of fourteen, he set off in his own vessel and defeated the pirate Jean Alphonse. He was acknowledged by the king, but hated by the Casa de Contratacion, which was a corrupt organization that basically controlled the Spanish empire. The king thought that Menendez could fight the corruption of the Casa de Contratacion and this Menendez did by gaining control of their fleet system. In 1554, the king named him captain general and gave him control of New World trade. The Casa group had him imprisoned and the king had him released.