Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, Biography, Facts, Significance

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer, Conquistador, and Governor of Nueva Galicia who led a major expedition across the American Southwest and Great Plains from 1540 to 1542 in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Cíbola and the wealthy kingdom of Quivira. Although the expedition failed to find the riches it sought, it expanded Spanish knowledge of the region and led to conflict with Native American Indian groups.

Summary

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer, Conquistador, and colonial official who became the Governor of Nueva Galicia in New Spain. In 1540, he led a large expedition northward in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Cíbola and the wealthy kingdom of Quivira. His expedition traveled through parts of present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, explored the Grand Canyon and Great Plains, and encountered several Indian tribes. Although Coronado found no cities of gold, the expedition expanded Spanish knowledge of the Southwest but contributed to hostility between Spaniards and Indians living in the American Southwest and on the Great Plains.

Personal Facts

Born: Coronado was born in Salamanca, Spain, in 1510.
Died: Coronado died in Mexico City on September 22, 1554. He was around 44.
Major Accomplishments:
- Coronado served as Governor of Nueva Galicia.
- He led expeditions that explored the American Southwest.
Part Of:
- European Adventurers.
- Spanish Conquest of the Americas.
Era: Exploration and Settlement.

Significance

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado is important to American History because the Coronado Expedition (1540–1542) explored large portions of the present-day American Southwest and the Great Plains. His expedition traveled through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, while contingents of his forces explored the Grand Canyon, Rio Grande Valley, and Llano Estacado. Although Coronado failed to find the legendary cities of gold that he sought, his expedition expanded Spanish knowledge of the region and contributed to hostilities between Spaniards and Indians.

Biography

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer, Conquistador, and colonial official who led one of the largest Spanish expeditions into the interior of North America during the 16th Century.

Born in Salamanca, Spain, around 1510, Coronado traveled to Mexico in 1535 with Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. Coronado became involved in northern exploration after reports circulated about wealthy settlements known as the Seven Cities of Cíbola. These rumors came from reports published by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, one of the four survivors of the failed Narváez Expedition.

In 1538, Coronado and Mendoza sent Fray Marcos de Niza north to investigate. Esteban, another survivor of the Narváez Expedition, guided this expedition, but was killed at Hawikuh, a Zuni pueblo. Despite this, the expedition continued. After returning, Marcos claimed he had seen a wealthy settlement larger than Mexico City. Based on these reports, Mendoza appointed Coronado to lead a much larger expedition.

In February 1540, Coronado traveled northward with hundreds of Spanish troops, Indian warriors, servants, Franciscan priests (including Marcos), and large herds of livestock. His army reached Hawikuh in July. Instead of finding a wealthy city, he found a small community of stone-and-brick buildings. Outraged, Coronado accused Marcos of lying and sent him back to Mexico City.

Coronado and his men approached Hawikuh and demanded that the Zuni submit to the authority of the Pope and King of Spain. The Zuni refused, but the Spaniards quickly overwhelmed them and used the area as a base of operations. Afterward, the Zuni submitted to Coronado, and two of them, whom the Spanish called Cacique and Bigotes, joined him.

Coronado sent expeditions throughout the Southwest, hoping they would find the cities of gold.

An expedition led by Pedro de Tovar reached Hopi settlements. Tovar clashed with the Hopi and defeated them. Afterward, they told him about a great river that was to their west.
Based on this report, Coronado sent García López de Cárdenas to find the river. López and his men became the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon, but they could not reach the river, now known as the Colorado River.

As winter approached, the expedition needed supplies. However, Coronado and his men failed to connect with supply ships under the command of Hernando de Alarcón. In need of food, Cacique and Bigotes told Coronado about large herds of cattle that were west of Hawikuh. Coronado sent Hernando de Alvarado east to explore.

Alvarado and Bigotes visited 12 pueblos north of present-day Albuquerque.
The Spanish named the area Tiguex.
Because the area seemed richer than Hawikuh, Alvarado suggested wintering there.
The Spanish also visited the Taos and Pecos pueblos.

During this expedition, a slave known as “the Turk” told Alvarado that Bigotes owned a gold bracelet that was from Quivira. When Bigotes denied the claim, Alvarado accused him of lying. He seized Bigotes and Cacique, who were at Pecos, and took them to Coronado, who was at Tiguex. This led to hostilities with the Pecos.

At Tiguex, Coronado forced the Natives out of the pueblos, which were then occupied by the Spanish. During the winter of 1540–1541, Coronado moved his headquarters to the Rio Grande near present-day Albuquerque, New Mexico. Relations with Pueblos deteriorated as Spanish forces demanded food, clothing, and other supplies.

Coronado’s first lieutenant, García López de Cárdenas, burned the pueblo at Arenal, drove the inhabitants out, and executed some of them.
About thirteen towns were destroyed, but the Pueblos continued to resist.
This conflict, known as the “Tiguex War,” or “Tiguex Massacre,” is the first named conflict between Europeans and Natives in the present-day United States.

In 1541, Coronado traveled eastward in search of Quivira but found only a Wichita Indian village rather than a wealthy kingdom. The Turk served as the expedition’s guide. Coronado responded by having the Turk executed. After traveling through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, the expedition returned to Tiguex and stayed there during the winter of 1541–1542.

The expedition returned to Mexico in 1542 without finding the riches it sought or establishing colonies. Despite this, he was named Governor of Nueva Galicia in western Mexico, a province of New Spain. He settled in Guadalajara.

Coronado later faced charges concerning the treatment of the Natives. While Coronado was not convicted, he was removed from office. His lieutenant, López, was convicted and died in prison.

Although the Coronado Expedition expanded Spanish knowledge of the interior, it increased tensions with the Pueblos, which contributed to the Pueblo Revolt (1680).

Coronado died in Mexico City on September 22, 1554.

Timeline

1510 — Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was born in Salamanca, Spain.
1535 — Coronado traveled to Mexico with Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza in search of wealth and status.
1538 — Mendoza and Coronado sent Fray Marcos de Niza north to explore territories associated with reports of wealthy cities.
1539 — Fray Marcos de Niza led a preliminary expedition and later reported that he had seen Cíbola.
1540, February — Coronado led an expedition north from Compostela, Mexico, in search of the Seven Cities of Cíbola.
1540, April 22 — Coronado’s expedition departed from Culiacan.
1540, July 7 — Spanish forces attacked and captured Hawikuh, a Zuni pueblo.
1540
- Pedro de Tovar traveled into Hopi territory and fought the Hopi.
- García López de Cárdenas led a party west and discovered the Grand Canyon.
- Hernando de Alvarado explored pueblos east of the Zuni settlements and traveled through the Tiguex region.
1540–1541
- Coronado established his winter headquarters near the Rio Grande, and conflict developed between Spanish forces and Pueblo communities.
- Spanish forces destroyed Native towns during the Tiguex War.
1541 — Coronado marched northeast across the plains in search of Quivira.
1541, May — Coronado realized the Turk’s stories about the wealth of Quivira were false and sent most of his force back to Tiguex.
1541, July — Coronado reached Quivira and found a Wichita Indian village rather than a wealthy kingdom.
1541, mid-August — Coronado and his men turned back toward Tiguex.
1541–1542 — Coronado suffered a severe injury after falling from his horse.
1542, Spring — Coronado’s expedition returned to Mexico.
1542, July — Coronado returned to Mexico City.
1542, Fall — Coronado traveled with his family to Guadalajara.
1554, September 22 — Francisco Vázquez de Coronado died in Mexico City.

AP US History

Definition

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado (1510–1554) — Coronado was a Spanish explorer, Conquistador, and Governor of Nueva Galicia who led a major expedition into the American Southwest and Great Plains from 1540 to 1542. Searching for the legendary Seven Cities of Cíbola and the wealthy kingdom of Quivira, his expedition traveled through present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Although he found no cities of gold, the expedition expanded Spanish knowledge of the Southwest and created lasting hostility with Native peoples.

Alignment

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado is part of the following AP US History sections:

Terms

Seven Cities of Cibola — The Seven Cities of Cibola were legendary wealthy cities that Spanish explorers believed existed in the present-day American Southwest. Stories about the cities grew from reports of Native settlements and older European legends about hidden Christian kingdoms. In 1539, the Franciscan friar Marcos de Niza claimed to have seen signs of great wealth in the region. His reports encouraged Francisco Vázquez de Coronado to lead a major expedition north from Mexico in 1540. Coronado found large Pueblo communities but no cities filled with gold. The search encouraged further Spanish exploration and increased European contact with Indigenous peoples of the Southwest.

Quivira — Quivira was a legendary wealthy kingdom that Spanish explorers believed existed somewhere on the Great Plains. In 1541, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado traveled east from present-day New Mexico after hearing reports of a rich land filled with gold. He eventually reached an area in present-day Kansas inhabited by the Wichitas, but he found no large cities or great stores of wealth. Despite the failure to find riches, the Coronado Expedition increased Spanish knowledge of the Great Plains and expanded contact with Native peoples.

Written by Randal Rust