Hernando de Soto.

Hernando de Soto (c.1496/1497^[1]–May 21, 1542) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who, while leading the first European expedition to the territory of the modern-day United States, was the first European to discover the Mississippi River. For the Spanish conquistador, see Hernando de Soto (explorer). ... 1881 Young Peoples Cyclopedia of Persons and Places This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1881 Young Peoples Cyclopedia of Persons and Places This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1496 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1497 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. ... Explorer redirects here. ... A Conquistador (Spanish: []) (English: Conqueror) was a Spanish soldier, explorer and adventurer who took part in the gradual invasion and conquering of much of the Americas and Asia Pacific, bringing them under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 19th centuries. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ...

A vast undertaking, De Soto's expedition ranged throughout the southeastern United States searching for gold and a passage to China. De Soto died in 1542 on the banks of the Mississippi River at present-day Lake Village, Arkansas. Hernando de Soto was born to parents who were hidalgos of modest means in Extremadura, a region of poverty and hardship from which many young people looked for ways to seek their fortune elsewhere. Two towns—Badajoz and Jerez de los Caballeros—claim to be his birthplace. All that is known with certainty is that he spent time as a child at both places and he stipulated in his will that his body be interred at Jerez de los Caballeros, where other members of his family were also interred.^[2] The age of the Conquerors came on the heels of the Spanish reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from Islamic forces. Spain and Portugal were filled with young men begging for a chance to find military fame after the Moors were defeated. With discovery of new lands to the West (which seemed at the time to be far East Asia), the whispers of glory and wealth were too compelling for the poor. The US Southeast is the eastern portion of the Southern United States, but the Census Bureau does not provide a standard definition of a Southeast region of the United States, and organizations that need to subdivide the US are free to define a Southeast region to fit their needs. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... Lake Village is a city located in Chicot County, Arkansas. ... An hidalgo or fidalgo was a member of the lower Spanish and Portuguese nobility. ... Location Badajoz, Spain location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Badajoz (Spanish) Spanish name Badajoz Founded 875 Area code 34 (Spain) + 924 (Badajoz) Website http://www. ... Jerez de los Caballeros is a town of south-western Spain, in the province of Badajoz. ...

De Soto sailed to the New World in 1514 with the first Governor of Panama, Pedrarias Dávila. Brave leadership, unwavering loyalty, and clever schemes for the extortion of native villages for their captured chiefs, became De Soto's hallmark during the Conquest of Central America. He gained fame as an excellent horseman, fighter, and tactician, but was notorious for the extreme brutality with which he wielded these gifts. Frontispiece of Peter Martyr dAnghieras De orbe novo (On the New World). Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, 1722. ... 1514 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pedro Arias de Dávila Pedrarias Dávila (Pedro Arias de Ávila) (Segovia, Castille, c. ... For other uses, see Native Americans (disambiguation). ... Motto: Pro Mundi Beneficio For Worldly Benefit Anthem: Himno Istmeño Capital (and largest city) Panama City Official languages Spanish Demonym Panamanian Government Constitutional Democracy  -  President Martin Torrijos  -  Vice President Samuel Lewis Navarro  -  Vice President Rubén Arosemena Independence  -  from Spain 28 November 1821   -  from Colombia 3 November 1903  Area...

During that time, Juan Ponce de León, who discovered Florida, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who discovered the Pacific (he called it the "South Sea" below Panama), and Ferdinand Magellan, who first sailed that ocean to the Orient, profoundly influenced De Soto's ambitions. Juan Ponce de León (c. ... Vasco Núñez De Balboa (1475–January 15, 1519) was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. ... Pacific redirects here. ... For the Presidential railcar named Ferdinand Magellan, see Ferdinand Magellan Railcar. ... The term the Orient - literally meaning sunrise, east - is traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle, and Far Eastern countries. ...

First expedition – The Conquest of Peru

In 1530, de Soto became a regidor of León, Nicaragua, and led an expedition up the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula searching for passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in order to trade Spain's New World fortunes with the Orient, the richest market in the world. Failing that, and without means to further explore, de Soto, upon Dávila' death, left his estates in Nicaragua and joined Francisco Pizarro in the conquest of Peru in 1532. Location within Mexico Country Capital Municipalities 106 Government  - Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco PRI  - Federal Deputies PAN: 4 PRI: 1  - Federal Senators Hugo Laviada (PAN) Alfredo Rodríguez (PAN) Cleominio Zoreda (PRI) Area Ranked 20th  - State 38,402 km²  (14,827. ... Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro González should not be confused with another Francisco Pizarro who joined Hernán Cortés to conquer the Aztecs. ...

De Soto joined Pizarro at his first base of Tumbez shortly before Pizarro departed for the interior of Peru, bringing his own men with him on ships he had hired. Pizarro immediately made de Soto one of his captains. When Pizarro and his men first encountered the army of the Inca Atahualpa at Cajamarca, Pizarro sent de Soto with fifteen men to invite Atahualpa to a meeting. When Pizarro's men attacked Atahualpa and his guard the next day (the Battle of Cajamarca), de Soto was in charge of one of the three groups of mounted soldiers. The Spanish captured Atahualpa, and the next day de Soto was again sent to the camp of the Incan army, where he and his men plundered Atahualpa's tents.^[3] Lifetime portrait of Atahuallpa, the last sovereign Inca emperor Atahualpa or Atawallpa (c. ... This article is about the city of Cajamarca. ... Combatants Aragon and Castille Inca Empire Commanders Francisco Pizarro Atahualpa Strength 106 infantry 62 cavalry 3 guns 80,000 soldiers of Atahualpas personal army Casualties 5 dead[1], 2 wounded 7,000 The Battle of Cajamarca was a surprise attack on the Inca royal entourage orchestrated by Francisco Pizarro. ...

During 1533, Atahualpa was held captive in Cajamarca for many months while a room was filled with gold and silver objects to ransom him. During this captivity, de Soto became friendly with Atahualpa, teaching him how to play chess. By the time the ransom had been completed, the Spanish became alarmed by rumors of an Incan army advancing on Cajamarca. Pizarro sent de Soto with four men to scout for the rumored army. While de Soto was gone the Spanish in Cajamarca decided to kill Atahualpa to prevent his rescue by the Incan army. De Soto returned later to report that he could find no signs of an army in the area. After the execution of Atahualpa, Pizarro and his men headed to Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire. As the Spanish force approached Cuzco, Francisco Pizarro sent his brother Hernando Pizarro and Hernando de Soto ahead to the city with forty men. The advance guard fought a pitched battle with Incan troops in front of the city, but the battle had ended before Francisco Pizarro arrived with the rest of the Spanish party, and the Incan army withdrew during the night. The Spanish plundered Cuzco, where they found much gold and silver. De Soto had received a mounted soldier's share of the plunder from Atahualpa's camp, Atahualpa's ransom, and the plunder from Cuzco, and had become very wealthy.^[4] The so-called ransom room, located in Cajamarca, Peru The Ransom Room (El Cuarto del Rescate) is a small room located in Cajamarca, Peru. ... The Church of La Compañía on the Plaza de Armas in Cuzco Cuzco is a city in southeastern Peru in the Huatanay Valley (Sacred Valley), of the Andes mountain range. ... Hernando Pizarro (1508-1608?) was a Spanish conquistador and one of the Pizarro brothers who ruled over Peru. ...

On the road to Cuzco, Manco Inca, a brother of Atahualpa, had joined Pizarro. Manco had been hiding from Atahualpa in fear of his life, and was happy to place himself under Pizarro's protection. Pizarro arranged for Manco to be installed as the Inca. De Soto joined Manco in a campaign to eliminate the Incan armies that had been loyal to Atahualpa. By 1534, de Soto was serving as lieutenant governor of Cuzco while Pizarro was building his new capital (which later became known as Lima) on the coast. In 1535 King Charles awarded Diego de Almagro, Francisco Pizarro's former business partner, the governorship of the southern portion of the Incan Empire. Pizarro and de Almagro quarreled over which governorship Cuzco was in. When de Almagro made plans to explore and conquer the southern part of the Incan empire (Chile), de Soto applied to be his second-in-command, offering a large payment for the position, but de Almagro turned him down. De Soto packed up his treasure and returned to Spain.^[5] Manco Inca Yupanqui (b. ... For other uses, see Lima (disambiguation). ... For the Carlist claimant King Carlos V, see Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. ... Diego de Almagro Diego de Almagro (b. ...

Return to Spain

De Soto returned to Spain with an enormous share of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Famous for being the hero of that conquest, he was admitted into the prestigious Order of Santiago. His share was awarded to him by the King of Spain, and received 724 marks of gold, 17,740 pesos.^[6] He married Isabel de Bobadilla, daughter of Pedrarias Dávila and a relative of a confidante of Queen Isabella. De Soto petitioned The King for the government of Guatemala, "with permission to make discovery in the South Sea," but was granted the governorship of Cuba, instead. De Soto was expected to colonize the North American continent for Spain within four years, for which his family would be given a huge piece of it forever. The Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire was a process through which a group of Spaniards led by Francisco Pizarro succeeded in toppling the Inca Empire in the early 16th-century. ... 17th century interpretation of saint James as the Moor-killer from the Peruvian school of Cuzco. ... La Giradilla on the watchtower of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, Cuba. ... Pedro Arias de Dávila Pedrarias Dávila (Pedro Arias de Ávila) (Segovia, Castille, c. ... Isabella I of Castile (April 22, 1451 – November 26, 1504) was Queen regnant of Castile and Leon. ... For the Carlist claimant King Carlos V, see Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. ... Animated, colour-coded map showing the various continents. ...

Fascinated by the stories of Cabeza de Vaca, Spain's just returned North American explorer, De Soto selected 620 eager Spanish and Portuguese volunteers, some of African descent, for the government of Cuba and Conquest of North America. Averaging 24 years of age, they eventually embarked from Havana on seven of the King's ships and two of De Soto's. With tons of heavy armour and equipment, the livestock count came to over 500, including 237 horses and 200 pigs. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (c. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... This article is about the capital of Cuba. ... A Spanish galleon. ... Portuguese caravel, adorned with the Cross of the Order of Christ. ... For other uses, see Armour (disambiguation). ...

De Soto planned to explore America for a passage to the Orient. His men, lured by Cabeza de Vaca's stories of gold to found, would need to provide themselves with food and shelter during their four year continental search. Tens-of-thousands of natives would die as a result. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (c. ...

De Soto's exploration of North America

Historiography

The exact course of de Soto's expedition is subject to discussions and controversy among historians and local politicians. The most widely used version of De Soto's Trail comes from the Congress of the United States. A committee chaired by the anthropologist John R. Swanton published "The Final Report of the United States De Soto Expedition Commission" in 1939. Manatee County, Florida, among other locations, claims an approximate landing site for De Soto and is the home of a national memorial recognizing the event.[1] The first part of the expedition's course (until De Soto's Mabila battle in Alabama) is only disputed in detail today, De Soto's Trail beyond Mabila is contested. Congress' De Soto Trail runs from there through Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas. Other theories argue for a northern route through Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana from Mabila. For other uses, see Historian (disambiguation). ... Congress in Joint Session. ... See Anthropology. ... John R. Swanton was an American anthropologist who worked among a number of Pacific Northwest coastal tribes in the United States and Canada in the early 20th century. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... For other uses, see Indiana (disambiguation). ... ...

Archeological reconstructions and the oral history of the natives have only lately been considered. However, this bears the handicap that most historical places have been overbuilt and more than 450 years of history have passed between the incidence and its narration. The only site definitively associated with de Soto's expedition is the Governor Martin Site at the Apalachee village of Anhaica, located about a mile east of the present Florida Capitol building in Tallahassee, Florida. It was found by archaeologist B. Calvin Jones in March of 1987. Archaeology or sometimes in American English archeology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains, including architecture, artefacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... This article is about the historical discipline; see Oral tradition for the oral transmission of historical information. ... Anhaica (also known as Iviahica, Yniahico, and pueblo of Apalache) was an Apalachee Indian town and capital of Apalachee Province located near Myers Park in the present-day city of Tallahassee, Florida. ...

The latest theory applies two journals of De Soto Exploration survivors: De Soto's Secretary, Rodrigo Ranjel, and The King's Agent with De Soto, Luys Hernández de Biedma. Between them they described De Soto's Trail in relation to Havana, from which they sailed, the Gulf of Mexico, which they skirted inland (then later headed back toward), the Atlantic Ocean, which they approached during their second year, high mountains, which they traversed immediately thereafter, and dozens of other geographic features along their way - large rivers and swamps - at recorded intervals. Given that earth's natural geography has not changed since De Soto's time, those journals, analyzed with modern topographic intelligence, render a more precise De Soto Trail. This article is about the journal as a written medium. ... Explorer redirects here. ... This article is about the capital of Cuba. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... For other uses, see Mountain (disambiguation). ... For the books called Geography by Ancient Greek authors, see Geographia (Ptolemy) and Geographica (Strabo) For the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society, see Geographical (magazine) Geography is the study of the earth and its features, inhabitants, and phenomena. ... For other uses, see River (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... With regards to time, an interval is the duration between two events or occurrences of similar events. ... For the books called Geography by Ancient Greek authors, see Geographia (Ptolemy) and Geographica (Strabo) For the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society, see Geographical (magazine) Geography is the study of the earth and its features, inhabitants, and phenomena. ... For discussion of land surfaces themselves, see Terrain. ...

1539 to early-1540 in Florida

Library of Congress' engraving.
The Spanish caption reads:
"HERNANDO DE SOTO: Extremaduran, one of the discoverers and conquerors of Peru: he travelled across all the Florida and defeated its still invincible natives, he died in his expedition in the year of 1543 at the 42 of his age".

In May 1539, De Soto landed nine ships with over 620 men and 220 surviving horses at Charlotte Harbor, Florida. He named it Espíritu Santo after the Holy Spirit. The ships brought priests, craftsmen, engineers, farmers, and merchants; some with their families, some from Cuba, most from Europe and Africa. Few of them had ever traveled outside of Spain, or even their home villages. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1306x2083, 1047 KB) This is a scan of an image in a 1945 Library of Congress booklet. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1306x2083, 1047 KB) This is a scan of an image in a 1945 Library of Congress booklet. ... Events May 30 - In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal to find gold. ... Port Charlotte is a census-designated place located in Charlotte County, Florida. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      In mainstream...

A young Spaniard named Juan Ortiz, who had come to Florida in search of the lost Narváez Expedition and been held by an inland tribe, was sighted near De Soto's port. Ortiz came to Florida in search of the earlier Narváez Expedition and was captured by the Uzica, a Calusa tribe. The daughter of Chief Hirrihigua of the Uzica arguably served as a precursor to Pocahontas by begging for Ortiz's life, as her father had ordered Ortiz to be roasted alive. Ortiz survived captivity and torture, and joined, at the first opportunity, the new de Soto Spanish expedition. Ortiz knew the countryside and also helped as an interpreter. As a lead guide for the de Soto expedition, Ortiz established a unique method for guiding the expedition and communicating with various tribal dialects. The "Paracoxi" guides were recruited from each tribe along the route. A chain of communication was established whereby a guide who had lived in close proximity to another tribal area was able to pass his information and language on to a guide from a neighboring area. Because Ortiz refused to dress and conduct himself as a hidalgo Spaniard, his motives and council to de Soto were held in suspicion by other officers. But Don Hernando remained loyal to Ortiz, thus allowing him freedom to dress and live among his tribal Paracoxi friends. Another important guide was the seventeen-year-old boy Perico, or Pedro, from modern-day Georgia, who spoke several of the local tribes' languages and could communicate with Ortiz. Perico was engaged as a guide in 1540 and treated better than the rest of the slaves, due to his value to the Spaniards. Juan Ortiz may refer to several different subjects. ... The Narváez expedition was a Spanish attempt to install Pánfilo de Narváez as adelantado (governor) of Spanish Florida during the years 1527 – 1528. ... The Narváez expedition was a Spanish attempt to install Pánfilo de Narváez as adelantado (governor) of Spanish Florida during the years 1527 – 1528. ... Approximate Calusa core area (red) and political domain (blue) The Calusa, sometimes spelled Caloosa, Calos, Carlos or Caalus[1], were a Native American group that lived on the coast and along the inner waterways of Floridas southwest coast. ... A 1616 engraving of Pocahontas by Simone van de Passe. ... Year 1540 was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ...

Hernando De Soto left port and traveled north, exploring Florida's West Coast, enduring native ambushes and conflicts along the way. His first winter encampment was at Anhaica, the capital of the Apalachee. It is the only place on the entire De Soto route where archaeologists have found physical traces of De Soto's presence. It was described as being near the "Bay of Horses," where members of the preceding Narváez expedition ate valued horseflesh while building boats for escape. He was also an explorer. Anhaica (also known as Iviahica, Yniahico, and pueblo of Apalache) was an Apalachee Indian town and capital of Apalachee Province located near Myers Park in the present-day city of Tallahassee, Florida. ... Approximate area of the Apalachee culture region. ...

1540 – Through Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi

From their winter location in the western panhandle of Florida, having heard of gold being mined "toward the sun's rising," the expedition turned north-east through Georgia and South Carolina to (present day) Columbia. The expedition was received there by a friendly female chief, who turned over her tribe's pearls, food and anything else the Spaniards wanted. No gold, however, other than pieces from an earlier Spanish coastal expedition, could be found. Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... Juan Pardo was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. ...

De Soto headed north into the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina where he spent one month resting the horses while his men searched for gold. De Soto then entered Tennessee and Northern Georgia, where he spent another month eating native foods, then turned south toward the Gulf of Mexico to meet his two ships bearing fresh supplies from Havana. The Appalachian Mountains are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Largest metro area Charlotte metro area Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (900 km)  - % water 9. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ...

Along his way, along a river in southern Alabama, De Soto was led into Mauvila (or Mabila), a fortified city.^[7] The Mobilian tribe, under Chief Tuscaloosa, ambushed De Soto's army.^[7] The Spaniards managed to fight their way out then attack and burn the city to the ground. During that nine hour encounter, twenty Spaniards died, most were wounded, and twenty more died during the next few weeks. The Native American warriors of that area - between 2,000 and 6,000 of them - died fighting in the fields, by fire in the city, or suicide. This article is about the U.S. State. ... The Mobilian language was a trade language used as a lingua franca among Native American groups living along the Gulf of Mexico around the time of European settlement of the region. ... wikify{{ }}Tuscaloosa was a notable chief of the Creek indians in what is now Alabama. ... For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ...

Even though the Spaniards "won" the battle, they lost most of their possessions and forty horses. The Spaniards were wounded, sickened, surrounded by enemies and without equipment in an unknown territory. Fearing that word of this would reach Spain if his men reached the ships at Mobile Bay, De Soto led them away from the gulf coast, into Mississippi, most likely near present-day Tupelo, where they spent the winter. Mobile Bay - Landsat photo Mobile and Mobile Bay from space, June 1991 During a jubilee along the shores of Mobile Bay, blue crabs & flounder come to shallow water near shore Mobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

1541 – To the west through Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas

Discovery of the Mississippi by William H. Powell (1823–1879) is a Romantic depiction of de Soto seeing the Mississippi River for the first time. It hangs in the United States Capitol rotunda.

In the spring of 1541, De Soto demanded 200 men as porters from the Chickasaw. They denied his claim and attacked the Spanish camp during the night. The Spaniards lost about forty men and the remainder of their equipment. According to participating chroniclers, the expedition could have been destroyed. Luckily for the expedition, the Chickasaw let them go, intimidated by their own success. Image File history File links Discovery_of_the_Mississippi. ... Image File history File links Discovery_of_the_Mississippi. ... Romantics redirects here. ... Capitol dome The rotunda is the central rotunda and dome of the United States Capitol. ...

On May 8, 1541, de Soto's troops reached the Mississippi River. It is unclear whether he, as it is claimed, was the first European to see the great river. However, he is the first to document this fact in official reports. is the 128th day of the year (129th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events The first official translation of the entire Bible in Swedish February 12 - Pedro de Valdivia founds Santiago de Chile. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ...

De Soto was less interested in this discovery though, recognizing it, first of all, as an obstacle to his mission. He and 400 men had to cross the broad river, which was constantly patrolled by hostile natives. After about one month, and the construction of several floats, they finally crossed the Mississippi and continued their travels westwards through modern-day Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. They wintered in Autiamique, on the Arkansas River. The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ...

After a harsh winter, the Spanish expedition decamped and moved on more and more erratically. Their faithful interpreter, Juan Ortiz, had died, making it more difficult to find directions, food sources and communicate with the Indians in general. The expedition went as far inward as the Caddo River, where they clashed with a militant Native American tribe called the Tula, who the Spaniards considered to be the most skilled and dangerous warriors they had ever encountered. This possibly happened in the area of present day Caddo Gap, Arkansas (a monument stands in that community). Eventually, the Spaniards returned to the Mississippi River. The Caddo River is an 80 mile long river that flows through the US state of Arkansas. ... Places named Tula include: Tula, Tula Oblast, Russia Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico Tula, Tamaulipas, Mexico Tula, Mississippi, USA Tula, Sardinia, Italy Tula, Kenya Other uses: Tula is the professional name of transsexual model/actress Caroline Cossey. ... Caddo Gap, Arkansas is a small community located in Montgomery County, Arkansas that lies between Glenwood, Arkansas and Norman, Arkansas, on the Caddo River. ...

In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto became the first European to see what Native Americans referred to as the Valley of the Vapors, Hot Springs, Arkansas, when he and his men reached the area. Members of many Native American tribes had been gathering in the valley for untold numbers of years to enjoy the healing properties of the thermal springs. There was agreement among the tribes that they would put aside their weapons and partake of the healing waters in peace while in the valley. DeSoto and his men stayed just long enough to claim the area for Spain. This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... Sign from the city limits. ...

The Benedict Manuscript

Written by R.W. Benedict Circa 1880

Discovery of Antiquarian Relics at Natural Steps, Arkansas, Pulaski County, on South Side River. Natural Steps (population 127 at 2000 census). ... Pulaski County is the name of several counties in the United States: Pulaski County, Arkansas Pulaski County, Georgia Pulaski County, Illinois Pulaski County, Indiana Pulaski County, Kentucky Pulaski County, Missouri Pulaski County, Virginia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the...

"About the year 1820 my father and family settled at Natural Steps, making a purchase of an improvement on public lands, of a Quapaw Indian named Heinman. I, at that time was about 8 years old and the events, that I am now to relate, are my own recollections and observations. About the year 1821, General Nix (General John Nicks) of the United States Army, was proceeding up the Arkansas river to supersede General (William) Bradford in the Indian Country of the far west, and to establish the military post of Fort Gibson. He was traveling in 3 Keel Boats, loaded with troops and Supplies (there being no Steamboats in those days). In passing our home, General Nix being an old acquaintance of my father John C. Benedict, stopped off to see his old friend. Previous to his arrival we had discovered, that upon the Spot where we were living, there had evidently been a Fort of great antiquity, and unknown to history. We invited the attention of General Nix to our discovery and after making a thorough examination, he pronounced the ruins to be unquestionably those of a very ancient raised Fort. Every evidence existed corroborative of the fact, that away back in the past centuries, there had been an important Fortification at this place, and that there had been a terrible fight engaged in, either at its capitulation and destruction, or at some time previous. The four walls of the fortification were still plainly visible, and their outlines well defined – and General Nix stepped their straight lines in measuring them. That this Fort must have been of great antiquity was evidenced by the fact that at this time immense trees were growing in the area inside the walls. Wild cherry trees, full 2 feet in diameter, and 50 or 60 feet to their first branches and as straight as an arrow. The walls were built of rock, and from the quantity of them these walls must have been of great size, but they were now torn down and covered with debris. In the immediate vicinity of the Fort, on a high elevation and far above any possible chance of overflow, there was to be seen a large excavation, now become a pond, grown up with "Menockonock" weeds and other water plants. All the surroundings proved that this excavation was of great age, contemporary with that of the Fort, and from its situation on the high lands, it could have been made but for one purpose, and that to procure the material for the embankment of the fort, or else a water receptacle for the uses of the Fort. Outside of the walls, and along the bank of the river, we found immense quantities of "Mashed or flattened bullets", of various sizes and shapes, indicating that they had been shot into something, evidently the stone walls of the Fort, and had been mashed by the contact. Here were also found Stone Hatchets, and arrowheads, all pointing unmistakably to the conclusion that a sanguinary battle had been fought here at sometime. Inside of the walls, while plowing, we found great quantities of lead that had been melted, and also an immense Indian Axe of solid stone, perfect in form, save that the handle had been broken off. This was a very interesting relic, and affords room for much thought and conjecture, as it was of extraordinary size, and uncommon shape, being four times as large as anything of the kind we had ever seen before or since. Nothing of its form had ever been seen in this country before, and the verdict of all was that it must have been brought from some far-off country, by an invading force. In or about the Fort was also found another most remarkable relic, which was "a solid piece of Brass", weighing exactly 5 pounds, 5 or 6 inches long, square in shape, having on either of its four sides, three distinct deep impressions about the size and shape of an old fashioned watch case, the centre impressions being the largest, and on either end a similar impression covering the entire end, save a margin on the outside. All of these impressions were of like shape, only differing in size. No letters, or characters appeared thereon, but perfectly smooth surfaces, save the impressions spoken of. This brass nugget, was examined by many of the most scientific men of Arkansas, in that day, and none were ever able to throw any light on it, as to whence it came, or for what purposes it could have been utilized. It remained in my father's possession for many years, he always having refused to dispose of it, though frequently urged to do so, and it finally very mysteriously disappeared, and we could never get any trace of it." The Quapaw people are a tribe of Native Americans who historically resided on the west side of the Mississippi River in what is now the state of Arkansas. ...

"About four miles above this spot, one Joshua Chandler found a piece, or rather a slab, of lead of peculiar shape, and singularly situated. It was found about 18 feet under what appeared to be the virgin soil, which had been some distance from the river bank, but the wash and caving for many years had reached it, and when found its edge was alone discernible, protruding from the washed bank. Upon excavating it, he found it to be a slab of lead, smooth on the faces and edges, about 8 by 14 inches in size, 2 inches thick, and weighing exactly 77 pounds. I remember the weight distinctly, as Chandler carried it to Little Rock and sold it to Joseph Henderson, a merchant, who was a brother-in-law of Chester Ashley, and received therefor 77 one pound bars of lead. This slab bore distinct signs on its faces of having been struck with an axe or tomahawk. It had a hole in each corner about 1 by ½ inch, just about the size that would be necessary for a strap to pass through in order to pack it. It was found in a vein of black clay and a little removed from it, on one side, was a bed of ashes and fire-coals, in same vein of clay, plainly indicating that this was over the surface of the ground and that the accumulation of ages had thus covered it with 18 feet of soil. Here again is ample room for speculation and conjecture. Was this the remains of a camp-fire? Was this slab of lead cast here at this time? If so, by whom, for what purpose, and why was it abandoned? From my studies in connection with these discoveries, I am convinced that there certainly was, at sometime, an important Fort at this place, garrisoned by somebody; that said Fort was attacked by invaders; that it was subsequently demolished either before or after capitulation; and that history fails to record any information thereof."

"It is a matter of history that "De-Soto" Hernando de Soto (explorer), passed through this identical country in his search for the "Golden land". Crossing the Arkansas river near or at Pine Bluff, he continued his explorations up to near the head-waters of the Arkansas, and returning passed over nearly the same route; that he had many desperate fights with the Indians; that he, on this exploration established three Forts, and that historians have so far failed to locate the 3rd Fort. May not this be the lost Fort of De-Sota? I think so, can any proof be brought to the contrary."

De Soto's death

De Soto died of a fever on May 21, 1542, in the Indian village of Guachoya (near present-day McArthur, Arkansas )^[8] on the western banks of the Mississippi. Upon his death, De Soto chose former maestre de campo (roughly, field commander) Luis de Moscoso Alvarado to assume command of the expedition.^[9] is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. ...

Since de Soto had encouraged the local natives to believe he was an immortal sun god (as a ploy to gain their submission without conflict), his men had to conceal his death. They hid his corpse in blankets weighted with sand and sank it in the middle of the Mississippi river during the night (though the Native Americans were clever enough to see through the ploy).^[10] The Fountain of Eternal Life in Cleveland, Ohio Immortality (or eternal life) is the concept of living in physical or spiritual form for an infinite length of time, or in a state of timelessness. ...

Spanish colonization of the Americas

History of the conquest

Inter caetera Alaska California Florida Guatemala Mexico Peru Yucatán Carte dAmérique (18th century Delisle map) File links The following pages link to this file: New World Guillaume Delisle Categories: NowCommons | Author died more than 100 years ago public domain images ... The Spanish colonization of the Americas was Spains conquest, settlement, and rule over much of the western hemisphere from 1492-1898. ... Inter caetera (Among other [works]) was a papal bull issued by Pope Alexander VI on May 4, 1493, which granted to Spain (the Crowns of Castile and Aragon) all lands to the west and south of a pole-of-pole line 100 leagues (418 km) west and south of any... Captain Juan Francisco Bodega y Quadra, circa 1785. ... The Spanish missions in California (more simply referred to as the California Missions) comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order between 1769 and 1823 to spread the Catholic faith among the local Native Americans. ... Spanish Florida (Florida Española) refers to the Spanish colony of Florida. ... // The Maya civilization thrived throughout much of Guatemala and the surrounding region for close to 2000 years before the Spanish arrived in the early 16th century. ... Aztec empire The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was one of the most important campaigns in the Spanish colonization of America. ... There lies Peru with its riches; Here, Panama and its poverty. ... The Spanish Conquest of Yucatán was the campaign undertaken by the Spanish conquistadores against the Late Postclassic Maya states and polities, particularly in the northern and central Yucatán Peninsula but also involving the Maya polities of the Guatemalan highlands region. ...

Conquistadores

Vasco Núñez de Balboa Francisco Vásquez de Coronado Hernán Cortés Juan Ponce de León Francisco de Montejo Pánfilo de Narváez Francisco Pizarro Diego de Almagro Hernando de Soto Sebastián de Belalcázar Pedro de Valdivia Juan de Oñate Francisco de Orellana A Conquistador (Spanish: []) (English: Conqueror) was a Spanish soldier, explorer and adventurer who took part in the gradual invasion and conquering of much of the Americas and Asia Pacific, bringing them under Spanish colonial rule between the 15th and 19th centuries. ... Vasco Núñez De Balboa (1475–January 15, 1519) was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. ... Coronado Sets Out to the North, by Frederic Remington, 1861-1909 Francisco Vázquez de Coronado (c. ... Hernán(do) Cortés Pizarro, 1st Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca (1485–December 2, 1547) was the conquistador who became famous for leading the military expedition that initiated the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. ... Juan Ponce de León (c. ... Francisco de Montejo (c. ... Pánfilo de Narváez Pánfilo de Narváez (1470 – 1528) was a Spanish conqueror and soldier in the Americas. ... Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro González should not be confused with another Francisco Pizarro who joined Hernán Cortés to conquer the Aztecs. ... Diego de Almagro Diego de Almagro (b. ... Sebastián de Belalcázar (1479 or 1480 to 1551) was a Spanish conquistador. ... Pedro de Valdivia Pedro de Valdivia (c. ... Don Juan de Oñate Salazar (1552 – 1626) was a Spanish explorer, colonial governor of the New Spain (present-day Mexico) province of New Mexico, and founder of various settlements in the present day Southwest of the United States. ... A Spanish postal stamp featuring Orellana Francisco de Orellana (c1500-c1549) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. ...

Return of the expedition to Mexico City

De Soto's expedition had explored La Florida for three years without finding the expected treasures or a hospitable site for their colonization efforts. They had lost nearly half their men, most of the horses had been killed, they were wearing animal skins for clothes and many were injured and in poor health. Upon consensus (although not total) it was decided to abort the expedition and try to find a way home, either down the Mississippi river, or overland across Texas to the Spanish colony of Mexico City.

It was decided that building boats would be too difficult and time consuming, and that navigating the Gulf of Mexico too risky - so they headed overland to the south-west. Eventually they reached a region in present-day Texas that was dry and the native populations thinned out to subsistence hunter-gatherers - this presented a serious problem as there were no villages to raid for food and the army was too large to live off the land. They were forced to backtrack to the more civilized regions along the Mississippi, and there began building seven bergantínes, or brigantines.^[9] They melted down all the iron they had, including horse tackle and slave shackles, to make nails for the boats. Winter came and went and the spring floods delayed another two months, but by July they set off down the Mississippi for the coast. Taking about 2 weeks to make the journey, they encountered hostile tribes along the whole course who would follow the boats in canoes harassing with arrows sometimes for days on end as they drifted through their territory - the Spanish had no effective offensive weapons on the water as their cross-bows had long ceased working, and so they could only rely on armor and sleeping mats to block the arrows. About 11 Spaniards were killed along this stretch and many more wounded. Description In sailing, a brigantine is a vessel with two masts, at least one of which is square rigged. ...

On reaching the mouth of the Mississippi the boats stayed close to the Gulf shore heading south and west, and after about 50 days they made it to the Pánuco River and the Spanish frontier town of Pánuco. There they rested for about a month, during which time many of the Spaniards, having safely returned and on reflection of their accomplishments, discontented factions arose believing they had left La Florida too soon without founding a settlement, leading to fights and some deaths. However, after they continued on to Mexico City and Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza offered to lead another expedition back to La Florida, few volunteered. Out of the initial 700 participants, somewhere between 300 and 350 survived (311 a commonly accepted figure) - most eventually stayed in the New World, settling in Mexico, Peru, Cuba and other Spanish colonies. Río Pánuco or the Pánuco River is a river in Veracruz, Mexico. ... The Pánuco River (Spanish: Río Pánuco) is a river in Mexico that flows from the River Moctezuma in the Valley of Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. ...

After-effects

De Soto's excursion to Florida was, from his view and the view of his men, a failure. They acquired neither gold nor prosperity and founded no colonies. The reputation of the expedition, at the time, was more like that of the later Don Quixote than that of Hernán Cortés. Nonetheless, it had several consequences. This article is about the fictional character and novel. ... Hernán(do) Cortés Pizarro, 1st Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca (1485–December 2, 1547) was the conquistador who became famous for leading the military expedition that initiated the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. ...

On one hand, the expedition left its traces in the travelled areas themselves. Some of the horses that escaped or were stolen helped establish the first populations of mustangs in western North America and the swine de Soto brought introduced pork into the south. De Soto was instrumental in forming the aggressive and hostile relationship between the Natives and Europeans. On several occasions they encountered hostile Natives to the new lands, and more times than not his expedition instigated the clashes. More devastating than the battles, however, were the diseases carried by the members of the expedition. Several areas the expedition crossed were depopulated. Many of the natives fled the populated areas struck by the illnesses towards the surrounding hills and swamps. The social structures of the population at the time were fundamentally changed. This article is about the feral horse of the American west. ...

The records of the expedition contributed in large part to geographic, biological, and ethnological knowledge in Europe. The de Soto expedition's descriptions of the North American natives are the earliest known source of knowledge on the societies in the southeastern North Americas. They are, in fact, the only European description of North American native habits before the natives encountered other Europeans. De Soto's men were, at the same time, the first and the last Europeans to experience the prime of the Mississippian culture. The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 to 1500 A.D., varying regionally. ...

De Soto's expedition also led the Spanish crown to reconsider Spain's attitude towards its colonies north of Mexico. He created a claim on large parts of the North Americas for the Spaniards, with their missions concentrated mainly on the state of Florida and the Pacific coast. This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ...

De Soto County, Mississippi (where he allegedly died), the county seat Hernando, De Soto Parish, Louisiana, and Hernando County, Florida are named after Hernando de Soto. The place of his disembarkation, Espiritu Santo, is marked by the De Soto National Memorial west of Bradenton, Florida. Several other cities and a car model are named after him. De Soto County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Hernando is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. ... De Soto Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... On a sweltering day in May of 1539, Hernando de Soto and an army of over 600 soldiers splashed ashore in the Tampa Bay area. ... Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. ... DeSoto Logo, used in the 1950s The DeSoto (sometimes De Soto) was a brand of automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. ...

Sources

• Clayton, Lawrence A. Clayton, Vernon J. Knight and Edward C. Moore (Editor): The de Soto Chronicles: The Expedition of Hernando de Soto to North America in 1539-1543; University of Alabama Press 1996. ISBN 0-8173-0824-5
• Duncan, David Ewing: Hernando de Soto: A Savage Quest in the Americas; University of Oklahoma Press 1997. ISBN 0-8061-2977-8 -- David Ewing Duncan
• Hudson, Charles M., Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun: Hernando De Soto and the South's Ancient Chiefdoms, University of Georgia Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8203-1888-4
• Albert, Steve: Looking Back......Natural Steps; Pinnacle Mountain Community Post 1991.
• Henker, Fred O., M.D. Natural Steps, Arkansas, Arkansas History Commission 1999.

The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship school of the University of Alabama System. ... David Ewing Duncan (b. ...

Notes

1913 advertisement for the 11th edition, with the slogan When in doubt — look it up in the Encyclopædia Britannica The Encyclopædia Britannica (properly spelled with æ, the ae-ligature) was first published in 1768–1771 as The Britannica was an important early English-language general encyclopedia and is still... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• MacQuarie, Kim. (2007) The last days of the Incas. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-6049-X ISBN 978-0-7432-6049-7

External links

• City of Hot Springs City of Hot Springs Official Website
• National Park Service, Hot Springs National Park • U.S. National Park Service website
• Hot Springs hisory and facts
• Hernando de Soto's Conquest of North America
• Hernando de Soto in the Conquest of South America
• Hernando de Soto in the Conquest of Central America
• Details of Hernando de Soto's Trail thru the United States
• Detailed Maps of Hernando de Soto's United States Trail
• Research to Reconstruct the Route of the Expedition
• Brief Biography of Hernando de Soto
• De Soto Memorial in Florida
• Discussion of Some Disputed Portions of DeSoto Trail

The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ...