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God, Gold and Glory
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Coronado, born in Spain, accompanied the new Viceroy to Mexico in 1535, where he married and became part of the local government. He was appointed to the city council of Mexico City and the Governor of Nueva Galicia in 1538. Here is where he heard the fantastic tales of Cabeza de Vaca, survivor of the Narvaez Expedition, including those of the wealthy Seven Cities of Cibola. The Viceroy Mendoza appointed Coronado to lead an expedition in search of the fabled cities. In April 1540, Coronado and some 1000 men and 1500 horses left Nueva Galicia to claim these rich and unknown lands for Spain. The route paralleled the west Coast of Mexico crossing through Sonora and into the territory of the Zuni in southeastern Arizona. Finding no gold or wealth there, Coronado sent out expeditions to the territories if the Hopi, Tiguex and Cicuque. There he picked up an Indian guide who told him about the wonderful province of Quivara. After wintering at Tiguex, in April 1542 he proceeded down the Pecos and over into the vast plains that are now the Llano Estacado of Eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. Here it was decided that the main expedition would turn back to Tiguex while Coronado and a small party continued to proceed north until he arrived at the river below Quivara (probably the Arkansas River). Here on the edge of the plains they encountered the Wichita Indians living in grass covered huts with an agrarian and bison hunting existence. There was no fabled city of gold. In the Spring of 1542, Coronado and his expedition returned to Mexico by the same route they had come.
Image of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Credit: www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/papr/coronado.html
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Index
1. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
2. Seven Cities of Cibola
3. Shipwreck of 1554 and Fray Marcos de Mena
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