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Louis Martinez age 11, of Los Angeles, CA

Who was Francisco Coronado?

Coronado was born in 1500, a younger son of a family of Spanish grandees. It was natural for Francisco Vasquez de Coronado to seek his fortune as a conquistador in the New World, He embarked with the new viceroy Antonio de Mendoza in 1535; He was soon made an alderman of Mexico City and later givers a Mexican province to govern. The conquistadors were more interested in gold and possessions than in government. Coronado, sad to. say., was no exception.

Loads of treasure and gold had been taken from Indian Mexico, The Spaniards followed every clue to find still more. No story was too fantastic to send them exploring: The Indians told of gold to be found in the Seven Cities of Cibola far north of Mexico. Governor Coronado could not resist. The conquistador turned explorer and rode forth in the armor and proud trappings of his noble family.

His party was large and well equipped, There were 250 mounted Spaniards and 70 Spanish foot soldiers. There were several friars and two of the Spaniards brought along their wives. There were several hundred Indians to act as servants, guides and interpreters. There were a great many pack animals and even herds of cattle. The party was well armed with primitive muskets, crossbows, spears, daggers and bronze cannon for which stones were used as ammunition, Coronado meant to take whatever gold he found. Seeking El dorados the land of gold  and claiming new lands for Spain, the splendid party set forth in 1540. The amazing excursion lasted two years and traversed much of what is now California, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, and Arizona;

The Seven Cities of Cibola were traced to what is now northern New Mexico They turned out to be a group of adobe villages belonging to the Zuni Indians,. Coronado called them Pueblos villagers, with contempt, for the simple houses and farmlands yielded no solid gold.

Disappointed  but undaunted Coronado turned northward on the trail of another golden rumor. He wintered his party by the Rio Grande and took timeout to pay a visit to the Grand Canyon. Smaller parties were sent on excursions in all directions. Next spring, Coronado took 30 horsemen and turned eastward, still seeking Eldorado. He crossed the prairies, saw the buffalo and reached central Kansas. There another rumor proved false. It had led him to a tepee village of Wichita Indians, but no gold.

There the great explorer turned back to join forces with his main party. They returned to Mexico tattered, weary and disgruntled. Such failure meant disgrace. Coronado was removed as governor for general neglect of duty. He was fined and even imprisoned. Later he returned to his post as alderman in Mexico City. But he sickened and soon died, believing himself a failure.

Little did he know of the riches he had passed by in his blind search for gold. In two years Coronado had laid claim for Spain to about one third of the territory which is now the rich and beautiful United States of America.

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