In 1769, during an uprising by the Pehuenche people in the Biobío region, he funded a cavalry company, named "Prince of Asturias," led by his own son José Gregorio.
ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti nˈaɪn, dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ɐn ˈʌpɹaɪzɪŋ baɪ ðə pˈɛhjuːəntʃ pˈiːpəl ɪnðə bˌaɪoʊbˈiːoʊ ɹˈiːdʒən, hiː fˈʌndᵻd ɐ kˈævəlɹi kˈʌmpəni, nˈeɪmd "pɹˈɪns ʌv ɐstʃɚɹˈiəz," lˈɛd baɪ hɪz ˈoʊn sˈʌn hoʊsˈeɪ ɡɹɛɡˈoːɹɪˌoʊ.