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Coronado was
born to a noble family in Spain about 1510. He was friendly
with Antonio de Mendoza. Mendoza was appointed viceroy of
New Spain (Mexico) and Coronado accompanied him to New Spain
as his assistant. He suppressed a slave rebellion, calmed
down the Indians and married the wealthy Beatriz Estrada,
daughter of the colonial treasurer. In 1538, Mendoza
appointed Coronado the governor of New Galicia, a western
province of Mexico.
Mendoza was
interested in the fantastic riches rumored to exist in the
Seven Golden Cities of Cibola north of New Spain's northern
border. An explorer named Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca had
reported these fabulous cities. Mendoza sent an expedition
out under a black slave named Esteban. Mendoza sent the
slave to verify these rumors. The expedition party consisted
of 300 Spaniards, hundreds of Indians, native slaves,
horses, herds of sheep, pigs and cattle. Mendoza made
Coronado the commander of the land expedition to seize the
treasure. In February 1540, Coronado left and proceeded
west. They entered the US at what is now the San Pedro
River. They went north and came upon a Zuni pueblo in New
Mexico but found no wealth or treasure. Coronado's men also
demanded that the Indians acknowlege Christianity and the
natives did not take kindly to this. They fired on
Coronado's men but were quickly subdued.
Coronado quickly
sent out scouting parties. One such party was the first to
view the Grand Canyon. They roamed around Arizona and New
Mexico finding other Indian pueblos. Then they went north to
Kansas where they found more Indians but no treasure. Later
in 1541, Coronado returned to Mexico City but with only 100
men. Others returned over the next several months. Mendoza
considered the expedition a failure and set up a trial but
Coronado escaped jail time or death. He was found innocent.
He continued his governorship of New Galicia. He died that
same year in Mexico City.
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