Remington, Frederic. "Coronado sets out to the north." Probably 1890s or 1900s. Oil painting. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado Expedition (1540 - 1542), passing through Colonial New Mexico, to the Great Plains. Accessed on http://www.frederic-remington.org/Coronado-sets-out-to-the-north.html.
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Francisco Vásquez de Coronado:
Search for the Seven Cities of Gold
Spanish Explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was known for his ambition and thirst for adventure. In 1540, he embarked on a daring expedition to find the legendary Seven Cities of Gold, also known as Cibola, which were rumored to be located in the vast lands to the north of Mexico. Coronado's expedition, consisting of over 1,000 men, including soldiers, craftsmen, and Native American allies, set out from Compostela, a Spanish settlement in present-day Mexico.
The journey was arduous and filled with challenges. The expedition traveled through the deserts and mountains of present-day Arizona and New Mexico, facing extreme weather conditions and hostile encounters with Native American tribes. Despite the hardships, Coronado and his men pressed on, driven by the allure of wealth and glory.
Upon reaching the Zuni Pueblo, one of the Seven Cities of Gold, Coronado discovered that the legends were greatly exaggerated. Instead of gold and riches, he found humble adobe villages with limited resources. Disappointed but determined, Coronado continued his search, exploring the Great Plains and reaching as far north as present-day Kansas.
While he didn't find the vast treasures he sought, his journey opened up new territories for Spanish colonization. The expedition mapped previously unknown regions and established Spanish presence in areas that would later become part of the United States. Coronado's encounters with Native American tribes also paved the way for future interactions and conflicts between European colonizers and indigenous peoples.
After several years of exploration, Coronado returned to Mexico in 1542. Despite the lack of material wealth, he was hailed as a hero for his courage and determination. He was appointed governor of New Galicia, a region in present-day Mexico, where he lived until his death in 1554.
In conclusion, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer who embarked on a quest for the Seven Cities of Gold but instead left a lasting legacy of exploration and colonization. His expedition, though not yielding the riches he sought, contributed to the expansion of Spanish influence in the Americas and shaped the history of the continent.
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