NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Juan Ponce de León

Statue of Juan Ponce de Leon at the Plaza San José in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The statue was made in New York in 1882 using the bronze from English Cannons seized after the English attacked San Juan in 1792.

Juan Ponce de León (c. 1460–July 1521) was a Spanish conquistador. Ponce de León accompanied Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish Crown. He is regarded as the first European known to have visited what is the present day United States of America when he set foot in Florida in 1513. Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon. ... Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon. ... Download high resolution version (638x885, 106 KB)Statue of Juan Ponce de Leon File links The following pages link to this file: Juan Ponce de León ... Download high resolution version (638x885, 106 KB)Statue of Juan Ponce de Leon File links The following pages link to this file: Juan Ponce de León ... San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th) - Land 122,409 km² - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico. ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Events The first Portuguese navigators reach the coast of modern Sierra Leone. ... Events January 3 - Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther. ... Conquistador (meaning Conqueror in the Spanish language) is the term used to refer to the soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas and Asia Pacific under Spanish rule between the 15th and 17th centuries. ... Seal of the Governor of Puerto Rico The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... State nickname: Sunshine State, Everglade State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd) - Land 137,374 km² - Water 30,486 km² (17. ...

In 1508, Ponce de León founded the first settlement in Puerto Rico, Caparra (later renamed San Juan). He was greeted with open arms by the Taino Cacique, Agueybana. The Tainos subsequently died in great numbers once they were exposed to the new European disesases the sailors brought with them and which the natives were not yet immune to. Events February - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor attacks Venice June 6 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three year truce and cede several territories to Venice December 10 - League of Cambrai formed as an alliance against Venice between... San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico. ... San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico. ... The Taíno are the pre-Hispanic Amerindian inhabitants of the Greater Antilles, which includes Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Bahamas. ... A cacique is a tribal chief in Latin America, particularly of the Spanish West Indies from the 16th century. ... Agueybana (died 1510) whose name means Great Sun, was the principal Cacique (Chief) of the Tainos and the most powerful governing Taino in Borinken (Puerto Rico) when the Spaniards first arrived. ...

The popular story that Ponce de León was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he sailed for Florida is misconceived. The facts are that upon the death of Columbus who was made military governor of his newly found discoveries for life, the Spanish authorities refused to grant the same privilege to his son Diego Columbus. The Spanish Crown by then had selected Ponce de León to colonize and govern the island of Puerto Rico. In the meantime Diego Columbus had taken his claim to the top court in Madrid and won his rights. Ponce de León was then removed from office and felt his good name had been damaged. Not wishing to serve Diego, Ponce de León obtained title to explore the areas north of Cuba.

Ponce de León sailed into the Bahamas headed toward Florida, then considered by slave hunters and fishermen to be a large island. He was seeking a spiritual rebirth with new glory, honor, and personal enrichment, not a physical rebirth through the waters of the Fountain of Youth.

On March 27, 1513, Ponce de León sighted Florida for the first time, still mistaking it for another island. Later, on April 2, he landed on the east coast of the newly discovered land at a point which continues to be disputed, but was undoubtedly south of present-day St. Augustine. Ponce de León claimed "La Pascua Florida" for Spain, and in 1514 received a commission to colonize the "island," though he would not return until 1521. March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in Leap years). ... Events January 20 - Christian II becomes King of Denmark and Norway. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... Five flags have flown over St. ... Events March - Louis XII of France makes peace with Emperor Maximilian. ... Events January 3 - Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther. ...

On the second visit, Ponce de León and his party were attacked by a tribe of the Calusa (on Pine Island), and de León was injured by a poisoned arrow. After this attack, he returned to Havana, Cuba, where he died. The Calusa, sometimes spelled Caloosa or Calosa, were a Native American group that lived on the coast and along the inner waterways of Floridas southwest coast. ... Havana (Spanish: San Cristóbal de La Habana) is the capital of Cuba and, with a population of 2. ...

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