1487-1557

Spanish explorer who established the first colonial settlements in what is now Paraguay. In 1537, Irala, along with fellow lieutenant Juan de Ayolas, sailed up the Plata and Paraguay Rivers. Ayolas vanished on an expedition, but Irala carried on, eventually founding Asunción, (now in Paraguay). Asunción soon became the first permanent Spanish settlement in southeastern South America, and would later help Spain in its quest to conquer northern Argentina.