Hernando de Soto

Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquests of Central America and Peru and, in the course of exploring what was to become the southeastern United States, discovered the Mississippi River. De Soto was born around 1496 or 1497 in Jerez de los Caballeros, a town in the province of Badajoz, Spain. He came from a family of minor nobility and modest means. He developed an interest in exploration and adventure at a young age and left for Seville when he was about 14 years old. There he joined an expedition to the West Indies led by Pedro Arias Dávila in 1514. De Soto proved himself to be a brave and skillful soldier and horseman. He made a fortune by trading in Indian slaves and participating in the conquest of Panama and Nicaragua. He also became a rival of Gil González de Ávila, another Spanish explorer who competed with him for control of Nicaragua. In 1530, De Soto lent two ships to Francisco Pizarro, who was planning to explore and conquer the lands south of Panama, where rumors of gold and riches abounded. De Soto joined Pizarro's expedition in 1531 as his chief lieutenant and captain of horse. He played a crucial role in the defeat of the Inca Empire in Peru. He was the first European to meet the Inca emperor Atahualpa at Cajamarca and later seized Cuzco, the Inca capital. He also befriended Atahualpa, but could not prevent his execution by Pizarro in 1533, despite the huge ransom that the Incas paid for his release. De Soto became very wealthy from the spoils of the conquest of Peru. He returned to Spain in 1536 as one of the richest conquistadors of his time. He married Isabel de Bobadilla, the daughter of Pedro Arias Dávila, in 1537. He also received royal permission to explore and conquer Florida, which was then a vague term for the lands north of Mexico. De Soto embarked on his expedition to Florida in 1538 with over 600 men and 220 horses. He landed near present-day Tampa Bay in May 1539 and began his journey through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and possibly Louisiana. He was looking for gold and silver, as well as a passage to China or the Pacific coast. He encountered many Native American tribes along the way, some friendly and some hostile. He also captured Indians to serve as guides and interpreters, as well as women to be his men's concubines. He fought several battles with the natives, often with devastating consequences for both sides. In May 1541, De Soto's expedition reached and crossed the Mississippi River, becoming the first Europeans to do so. He continued to explore the Mississippi Valley, hoping to find a rich civilization like that of the Incas. However, he found only more hardships and disappointments. He became ill with a fever and died on May 21, 1542, near Lake Village, Arkansas or Ferriday, Louisiana (the exact location is disputed). His men buried him in the Mississippi River to prevent his body from being desecrated by the natives. De Soto's expedition was a failure in terms of finding gold or a passage to China. It also caused much suffering and death among both the Spaniards and the Native Americans. However, it was also a remarkable feat of exploration and discovery. De Soto and his men traveled nearly 4,000 miles through unknown lands and encountered many diverse cultures and peoples. They also mapped and documented the region that would become the southeastern United States. De Soto's legacy is a mixed one, but he remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of the Americas.