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Pedro Arias de Avila[pA´thrO A´ryAs dA A´vElA] Pronunciation Key, known as Pedrarias[pAthrA´ryAs] Pronunciation Key, c.1440–1531, Spanish colonial administrator. He was sent (1514) as governor to DariEn (now part of Panama), then under the rule of Vasco NUnez de Balboa. A long quarrel between the two ended with Balboa's execution. Pedrarias's administration was notoriously harsh and cruel, but he extended the Spanish dominions and founded (1519) Panama City; he first aided, but later hindered, Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro in their conquest of Peru. His name also appears as Pedrarias DAvila.
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