Francisco Vázquez de Coronado Facts & Worksheets

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer of the North American Southwest whose expeditions led to the discovery of numerous physical landmarks, including the Grand Canyon. Still, he could not locate the treasure-laden cities he sought. He was born circa 1510 in Salamanca, Spain, and died September 22, 1554 in Mexico.

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Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

• Vázquez de Coronado, the second son of Juan Vázquez de Coronado and Isabel de Luján, was born in Salamanca in 1510 into an aristocratic family. 
• Under Íñigo López de Mendoza, the first Christian governor of the newly annexed Emirate of Granada, Juan Vázquez held several roles in the administration. 
• Around the age of 25, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado traveled to New Spain (modern-day Mexico) in the company of Antonio de Mendoza, the first Viceroy of the region and a close friend of Vázquez de Coronado’s father.
• In New Spain, he wed twelve-year-old Beatriz de Estrada, also known as “the Saint” (la Santa). 
• She was the daughter of treasurer and governor Alonso de Estrada y Hidalgo, Lord of Picón, and his wife, Marina Flores Gutiérrez de la Caballería, who came from a converso Jewish family. 
• Leonor de Estrada is an ancestor of the de Alvarado family. Vázquez de Coronado had eight children with Beatriz and received a sizable chunk of a Mexican encomendero fortune through her.

EXPEDITION

• In 1539, Vázquez de Coronado, Governor of Nueva Galicia, dispatched an expedition led by Friar Marcos de Niza and Estevanico to search for the mythical Seven Cities of Gold, inspired by de Niza’s tales of a wealthy city called Cíbola. 
• After initial investigations disproved de Niza’s claims, Vázquez de Coronado led a large expedition in 1540 composed of European men-at-arms, Mexican Indian allies, Franciscan friars, and enslaved people in search of Cíbola. 
• The expedition followed a treacherous route, encountering harsh weather and scarce resources. 
• Disappointment awaited Vázquez de Coronado upon reaching Cíbola, which turned out to be a humble village inhabited by the Zuni people. 
• Despite this setback, Vázquez de Coronado continued exploring the Arkansas River and encountering various indigenous people tribes, including the Querechos and Teyas.
• He eventually reached Quivira, a settlement in present-day Kansas, but found it modest and lacking in the wealth he sought. 
• Disheartened, he returned to New Mexico, where he faced bankruptcy and charges of war crimes. Vázquez de Coronado died in Mexico City in 1554.

FAMILY

• After a year of coming to New Spain, he wed Beatriz de Estrada, dubbed “the saint.” 
• Beatriz was Diego de Caballeria’s niece and the second child of Alonso de Estrada and Marina de la Caballería. Francisco and Marina skillfully engineered the political unity of Estrada and Coronado. 
• Francisco’s marriage to this woman made him wealthy. The third-largest encomienda in New Spain, Tlapa, was brought to the marriage by Beatriz. Francisco’s expedition received a significant amount of finance from this marriage. 
• According to various reports, Beatriz and Francisco had five daughters (Isabel, María, Luisa, Mariana, and Mayor) and at least four sons (Gerónimo, Salvador, Juan, and Alonso). 
• Following Alonso’s passing, Beatriz ensured three of their daughters married into well-known New Spain families. She did not remarry. 
• It was unfortunate for Beatriz, the widow of a conqueror who had rendered such invaluable service to His Majesty, that her husband had died in extreme poverty as a result of the New Laws taking away their encomiendas and that she and her daughters also lived in misery. 
• This is part of the power struggles among settlers and attempts to take advantage of the emerging new system that tried to find a way to administer justice in a land the king could not see, or the army could not reach, just as most reports from the early days of New Spain, both positive and negative and regarding everything, have been proven to be false.
• Francisco, Beatriz, and their kids had a comfortable way to end their days.

COMMEMORATION

• The Coronado Exposition Commission Act of 1939, passed by the 76th Congress of the United States, permits the construction of a monument at the closest point of the international border between Mexico and the United States, where the Coronado expedition first entered North America. 
• To honor his mission, the United States built the Coronado National Memorial near Sierra Vista, Arizona, in 1952. He is also honored by the surrounding Coronado National Forest. 
• A Grand Canyon crest called Coronado Butte was formally named in his honor in 1908. 
• Northwest of Lindsborg, Kansas, there is a big hill called Coronado Heights. 
• Vázquez de Coronado is honored by the Coronado High Schools in Lubbock, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Scottsdale, Arizona. 
• In honor of Vázquez de Coronado, Coronado Road was named in Phoenix, Arizona. Similarly, the Coronado Freeway runs through Albuquerque on Interstate 40. 
• The name Coronado, California comes from the Coronado Islands, which were named in 1602 by Sebastián Vizcaíno, who dubbed them Los Cuatro Coronados (the four crowned ones), in honor of four martyrs, not Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. 
• He is honored by the name Coronadite, a mineral.

POPULAR CULTURE

• The “Cross of Coronado” is mentioned in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In the movie, Vázquez de Coronado receives this gold cross that Hernán Cortés gave him in 1521 after it was found in a labyrinth of caves in Utah. 
• They encounter Zia Troyano, an adolescent Zuni indigenous person, the third important character. Mendoza and Sandoval both take part in the fight of Hawikuh, in which Sandoval is hurt, and they both talk about Coronado’s wound.
• Based on Vázquez de Coronado’s expedition narrative, “Hitchin’ to Quivira” is a song from indie singer-songwriter Tyler Jakes’s 2016 album Mojo Suicide.
• Vázquez de Coronado’s mission is the basis for the song “Coronado And The Turk” from singer-songwriter Steve Tilston’s 1992 CD Of Moor And Mesa.
• Charlie’s Ghost: The Secret of Coronado, alternatively titled Charlie’s Ghost Story and starring Cheech Marin, is a 1995 film about a little boy who encounters Coronado’s ghost and tries to aid him by burying his remains properly.
• Craig Baldwin, an underground found-footage director, used repurposed footage from Westerns, conquest movies, and The Lone Ranger television series to create the 1992 film, O No Coronado!, which chronicled the expedition of Vázquez de Coronado.

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Francisco Vázquez de Coronado across 23 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. He was born circa 1510 in Salamanca, Spain, and died September 22, 1554 in Mexico.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado Facts
2. Crack the Code
3. Timeline Connection
4. Route Organizer
5. Artifact Analysis
6. Coronado: The New Evidence
7. Expedition Proposal
8. Heraldic Crest Design
9. Learn the Language
10. Tales of Journey
11. Guiding the Future

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Francisco Vázquez de Coronado?

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who is best known for leading an expedition in search of the Seven Cities of Gold in the North American Southwest during the 16th century.

What was the purpose of Coronado’s expedition?

Coronado led his expedition primarily in search of wealth and glory. He aimed to find the legendary Seven Cities of Gold, which were believed to be located somewhere in the southwestern part of North America. Additionally, he hoped to expand Spanish territory and spread Christianity.

What were the major accomplishments of Coronado’s expedition?

Although Coronado did not find the fabled Seven Cities of Gold, his expedition was significant for being one of the earliest European explorations of the American Southwest. His journey resulted in the discovery of the Grand Canyon and other parts of present-day Arizona and New Mexico. Coronado’s expedition also paved the way for further Spanish exploration and colonization of the region.

What were some challenges Coronado faced during his expedition?

Coronado and his men faced numerous challenges during their expedition, including harsh weather conditions, difficult terrain, and resistance from indigenous peoples. They also encountered logistical difficulties and suffered from shortages of food and water. Additionally, Coronado’s failure to find significant wealth led to disappointment among his followers.

What was Coronado’s legacy?

Despite not achieving his primary goal of finding the Seven Cities of Gold, Coronado’s expedition contributed to the European exploration and colonization of North America. His journey helped to map previously unknown territories and paved the way for future Spanish expeditions and settlements in the region. However, Coronado’s expedition also had negative consequences, including the spread of disease and violence against indigenous peoples.

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