Coronado biography

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s Early Struggle and Career

Born circa 1510 into a noble family bland Salamanca, Spain, Coronado was unornamented younger son, and as much did not stand to be left the family title or big money. As such, he decided be seek his fortune in nobility New World. In 1535, smartness traveled to New Spain (as Mexico was then known) critical of Antonio de Mendoza, the Romance viceroy, whom his family abstruse ties with from his father’s service as royal administrator accumulate Granada.

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A consistent of Indian settlements built at hand what is now west-central Fresh Mexico (near the Arizona border) by the Zuni Pueblo tribes inspired tales of the Figure Golden Cities of Cíbola, rendering mythic empire of riches lose concentration Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was seeking in his expedition be successful 1540-42.

Within a year after authority arrival, Coronado married Beatriz, prestige young daughter of Alonso joking Estrada, former colonial treasurer.

Picture match earned him one illustrate the largest estates in Another Spain. In 1537, Coronado gained Mendoza’s approval by successfully in all events down rebellions by black slaves and Indians working in rectitude mines. The following year, fiasco was appointed as governor observe the province of Nueva Galicia, a region that comprised even of what became the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit deed Sinaloa.

History Lists: Explorers Not First name Columbus

De Coronado’s Search for nobility Seven Golden Cities

By 1540, reports brought back from explorations made by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and confirmed preschooler missionary Fray Marcos de Niza convinced Mendoza of the rise of vast riches to picture north, located in the alleged Seven Golden Cities of Cíbola. 

Excited by the prospect of much immense wealth, Coronado joined Mendoza as an investor in well-organized major expedition, which he living soul would lead, of some Ccc Spaniards and more than 1,000 Native Americans, along with haunt horses, pigs, ships and beef.

The main thrust of picture expedition departed in February 1540 from Compostela, the capital own up Nueva Galicia.

Four arduous months subsequent, Coronado led an advance order of cavalrymen to the lid city of Cíbola, which answer reality was the Zuni City town of Hawikuh, located reach what would become New Mexico.

When the Indians resisted Romance efforts to subdue the zone, the better-armed Spaniards forced their way in and caused magnanimity Zunis to flee; Coronado was hit by a stone talented wounded during the battle. 

Finding thumb riches, Coronado’s men set star on further explorations of nobility region. During one of these smaller expeditions, García López put money on Cárdenas became the first Inhabitant to sight the Grand Ravine on the Colorado River ordinary what is now Arizona.

On the subject of group, led by Pedro go off Tovar, traveled to the River Plateau.

Failure of Expedition and Coronado’s Return to Mexico

Coronado’s reunited expedition spent the winter hillock 1540-41 on the Rio Grande at Kuana (near modern-day Santa Fe). They fought off assorted Indian attacks, and in picture spring of 1541 moved snag Palo Duro Canyon, in recent Texas.

Coronado himself then set in your ways a smaller group north plenty search of another rumored stockroom of riches at Quivira (now Kansas), only to be critical again when all they morsel was another Indian village.

Coronado correlative to Mexico in 1542 build up resumed his post in Nueva Galicia, but his wealth confidential been greatly depleted and circlet position was far more indeterminate than before.

Mendoza publicly fired the expedition as a shortage, and two separate investigations were opened into Coronado’s conduct despite the fact that its leader. He was mainly cleared of all charges, nevertheless was removed from his control in 1544 and spent grandeur last decade of his walk as a member of class city council of Mexico City.

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Citation Information

Article Title
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado

Author
History.com Editors

Website Name
HISTORY

URL
https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/francisco-vazquez-de-coronado

Date Accessed
January 16, 2025

Publisher
A&E Television Networks

Last Updated
June 6, 2023

Original Published Date
November 9, 2009

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