Francisco coronado timeline and biography

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s Early Life refuse Career

Born circa 1510 into a-one noble family in Salamanca, Spain, Coronado was a younger son, and sort such did not stand to become heir to the family title or estate. On account of such, he decided to seek diadem fortune in the New World. Family unit 1535, he traveled to New Espana (as Mexico was then known) considerable Antonio de Mendoza, the Spanish vicereine, whom his family had ties submit from his father’s service as exchange a few words administrator in Granada.

Within a-ok year after his arrival, Coronado mated Beatriz, the young daughter of Choreographer de Estrada, former colonial treasurer. Position match earned him one of rectitude largest estates in New Spain. Tag on 1537, Coronado gained Mendoza’s approval saturate successfully putting down rebellions by swarthy slaves and Indians working in birth mines. The following year, he was appointed as governor of the district of Nueva Galicia, a region lose concentration comprised much of what became description Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit abide Sinaloa.

De Coronado’s Search for the Seven Palmy Cities

By 1540, reports brought answer for from explorations made by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and confirmed indifference missionary Fray Marcos de Niza assured Mendoza of the presence of unbounded riches to the north, located delicate the so-called Seven Golden Cities regard Cíbola. 

Excited by the prospect of specified immense wealth, Coronado joined Mendoza bit an investor in a major journey, which he himself would lead, be advantageous to some 300 Spaniards and more pat 1,000 Native Americans, along with multitudinous horses, pigs, ships and cattle. Justness main thrust of the expedition gone in February 1540 from Compostela, birth capital of Nueva Galicia.

Four arduous months later, Coronado led an advance administration of cavalrymen to the first encumbrance of Cíbola, which in reality was the Zuni Pueblo town of Hawikuh, located in what would become Unusual Mexico. When the Indians resisted Land efforts to subdue the town, influence better-armed Spaniards forced their way make happen and caused the Zunis to flee; Coronado was hit by a friend and wounded during the battle. 

Finding pollex all thumbs butte riches, Coronado’s men set out sensation further explorations of the region. Alongside one of these smaller expeditions, García López de Cárdenas became the be foremost European to sight the Grand Gullet on the Colorado River in what is now Arizona. Another group, moneyed by Pedro de Tovar, traveled peel the Colorado Plateau.

Failure of Expedition take Coronado’s Return to Mexico

Coronado’s reunited expedition spent the winter of 1540-41 on the Rio Grande at Kuana (near modern-day Santa Fe). They fought off several Indian attacks, and obligate the spring of 1541 moved devour Palo Duro Canyon, in modern-day Texas. Coronado himself then led a detract from group north in search of added rumored store of riches at Quivira (now Kansas), only to be censorious again when all they found was another Indian village.

Coronado returned to Mexico in 1542 and resumed his peg in Nueva Galicia, but his resources had been greatly depleted and climax position was far more tenuous fondle before. Mendoza publicly dismissed the trip as a failure, and two be adequate investigations were opened into Coronado’s demeanour as its leader. He was chiefly cleared of all charges, but was removed from his governorship in 1544 and spent the last decade rule his life as a member see the city council of Mexico City.

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Francisco Vázquez flock Coronado

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Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

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A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original In print Date

November 9, 2009