Hernando de Soto was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in one of the most incredible expeditions in history through what is now the southern United States.
History of United States
The Conquest of California
The first colony founded by Spaniards in Californian territory was a small settlement near the present La Paz (Baja California - Mexico) by an expedition sent by Hernán Cortés in 1533 and captained by Fortún Jiménez. They thought the California was an island. Like most of this type of first
The conquest of Texas, the missions
We go to the middle of the 17th century. Until then, the territory that currently occupies the state of Texas did not attract the attention of the nearby Spaniards in Virreinato de Nueva España. It was a hard territory, complicated and there were the Comanche Indians who were not exactly
The peaceful conquest
In 1573, the King of Spain Philip II approved a package of laws known as the Ordinances of discoveries, new population and pacification of the Indies that changed the way in which the new lands of Las Indias had to be conquered and populated. Before violent conquest was allowed, now
Juan de Oñate and the Conquest of New Mexico
In the sixties of the sixteenth century were found large silver mines in Chihuahua, which marked the northernmost area colonized by Spanish explorers. The possibility of more mines and other riches beyond this area aroused the curiosity and ambition of new explorers. But a new problem had arisen for these
Menéndez de Avilés and the foundation of San Agustín de la Florida
It is 1559, when France and Spain signed the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis becomed allies. The danger of France colonizing territories in the New World had passed. But in reality, French pirates and privateers continued to harass the maritime routes of Spanish ships and to look for points where they could
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and the discovery of California
Most of the Spanish expeditions of colonization and conquest of North America focused on the southern zone, with the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, and the coast this. Many men and resources were allocated to the colonization of these points mainly because of their strategic military value, from there the
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado explores Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, born in Salamanca (Spain) in 1510. He arrived in Nueva España in 1535 and quickly became a trusted person of Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. In 1538, he was appointed Governor of Nueva Galicia replacing the former, accused and convicted of mistreating the natives. As we told in
The Great Expedition Of Hernando De Soto In 1538 Through The North American South
Hernando de Soto, conqueror and explorator Hernando de Soto, born in Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz - Spain), arrived in the Indias in 1514 in the fleet colonization of the governor of Panama Pedrarias Davila. Two years later, he was named captain of cavalry and participated in various conquests in Central
The Viceroy Mendoza and the Seven Cities of Cibola
The name "Seven Cities of Cibola" comes from the early sixteenth century, specifically 1508, the year in which the book of chivalry of Amadís de Gaula was published in Spain that narrates the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, seven bishops fled Spain with a fabulous treasure and took it
Nuño de Guzmán, conquistador of Nueva Galicia
Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, born in Guadalajara (Spain) in 1490. He was appointed governor of Panuco in 1525, a territory taken from its discoverer and conqueror Francisco de Garay. He marched to his governorate and once there and because of the rivalry between the king and Hernán Cortés he was
Pánfilo de Narváez and Cabeza de Vaca, exploration of the Southern United States
Panfilo de Narváez, Segovian born in 1470. He served the Governor of Jamaica, Juan de Esquivel, and then marched to the Hispaniola Isle where he was appointed lieutenant of Diego de Velázquez with whom he participated in the conquest and colonization of Cuba. When Cortés betrayed Velázquez, he sent him to
Esteban Gómez, exploration of the entire East Coast
Esteban Gómez, Portuguese navigator, was born in 1483 in Oporto (Portugal). In 1518 he was appointed pilot of Seville Contracting House, thus passing to serve the Spanish crown. He participated as a pilot of the nao Trinidad ('capitana' ship) in the journey of Fernando de Magallanes with the objective of
Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, foundation of the first Spanish settlement in North America
Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, born in Toledo (Spain) in 1475, was a oidor of the Royal Court of Santo Domingo (founded in 1511) and a sugar courier on the Hispaniola island. He traded with slaves and pearls that he obtained by financing expeditions to the coasts of the pearls in
Francisco de Garay, expeditions along the Gulf of Mexico coast
Francisco de Garay was an important figure in the Hispaniola island of those years. He arrived on the island on the second journey of Columbus. It was enriched with gold found near Santo Domingo and was related to María de Toledo, the wife of Diego Columbus. He was appointed Mayor