Gold has enticed men for generations to seek out wealth. Men came from as far away as Europe to search for gold and explore the unknown lands in the ÒNew WorldÓ. One such man was Coronado, who explored through rich pine forests, stark deserts, and wild mountain passes. He bravely led his men across the North American continent, only to find worthless Indian pueblos. Coronado never found gold. However, as he may not of realized, CoronadoÕs expedition accomplished so much, it is matched by few other explorers of his era. CoronadoÕs journey began in 1535 when he went with Antonio de Mendoza to Mexico. The exact location of where they docked is unknown, but it is clear that they both settled in Mexico City. When Coronado arrived, he immediately began to gain respect both politically and socially. In 1537 he married Beatriz de Estrada. For Coronado, this was an accomplishment because Beatriz de Estrada was perhaps the wealthiest woman in New Spain (Mexico). In 1538 Coronado was named the governor of the New Galicia province. This province was located north-west of Mexico City. Becoming a governor in such little time was another major accomplishment of Coronado. Being governor meant he had to be MendozaÕs right-hand man. It also meant that when rumors of gold reached Mendoza, Coronado would be his first choice to become captain of an expedition. The rumor of the Seven Cities of Cibola began when Indians told the Spanish of wealthy civilizations in the north. Marcos de Niza, a Spanish priest who was sent by Mendoza, started an expedition to find the riches. Niza came across the largest of six Zuni villages, and reported it to be wealthy and large. He returned to Mendoza with his report. Mendoza, now believing even more in the cities, sent another expedition to find and seize the treasures. This time he appointed Francisco Vazquez de Coronado as the captain. Coronado started his expedition in 1540 in the small village of Compostela, the capital of New Galicia. In July of the same year, the expedition thought they had found the first of the seven cities in Zuni, New Mexico. Actually all they found were poor Indian pueblos made of sun-baked mud. The Indians were a very simple and peaceful tribe. They farmed and made clay pots. Coronado and his group were very disappointed; they traveled very far for dream that didnÕt exist. Although it would appear that he was failing, Coronado did not give up. He didnÕt want to go back to Mexico empty handed, so he headed eastward into the valley of Rio Grande. While crossing the Rio Grande, Coronado found many other villages of the Pueblo Indians. Again, they were poor, peaceful, farming Indians. They treated CoronadoÕs army kindly, gave them food, and a place to sleep. Coronado camped with the Indians for the winter. During the time, quarrels came up between Coronado's men and the Indians. The Spanish stormed the villages, killing many Indians, and took others as prisoners. CoronadoÕs army was searching for a land called Quivira, which was supposed to be particularly rich. Quivira was said to be farther north, so Coronado now traveled away from the Rio Grande Valley, guided by an Indian. After the army had run out of all their food and Quivira was still said to be far north, Coronado sent his army back to Rio Grande. Coronado himself, thirty horse-men, and the two guides continued looking for Quivira. After 42 days Coronado and his group came to the country of Quivira. In Quivira Coronado found no gold, no silver, and no marvelous city filled with riches. Instead he found more Indians, living plain and simple lives. Coronado spent a month there and then returned back to Mexico with 100 men from his army. The rest of his troops returned in the following months. It is clear he failed in his mission to find the treasure of the Seven Cities of Cibola and the land of Quivira. However, Coronado did discover many things and claim the land for Spain on his journey. He was also the first European man to cross the Nebraska-Kansas plains. Coronado split his army into four expeditionary parties. One of these parties (led by Cardenas) discovered the Grand Canyon. Cardenas commanded a dozen horsemen. It is believed that he arrived at the Canyon edge near Grandview, a modern tourist attraction. Seeing this magnificent gash in the earth would almost take the breath away from anyone, particularly an early explorer. Unfortunately, historians have no records of what Cardenas felt or thought upon finding the canyon, because all reports have been lost. Another expeditionary party of CoronadoÕs was led by Don Pedro de Tovar. His main mission was to find a region called Tusayan. The Indians said that Tusayan was made up of seven villages. When the Spanish heard this, they clearly saw the connection between the legend of the seven golden cities and the seven Indian villages. Tovar began marching westward into what would now be northeast Arizona. There, he found a desert region with many brilliant colors. He called this the Desierto Pintado, meaning The Painted Desert. This desert is now a national monument in Arizona. After much traveling, Tovar found the first settlement of Tusayan. What Tovar had pictured as a great city, was in fact more Indian pueblos, much like the ones at Cibola. This group of Indians were called the Hopi. Unlike the other Indian groups the Spanish encountered, the Hopi were not welcoming. When the Spanish arrived they immediately made gestures toward them to stay away. Hopi warriors guarded the entrance of their village, and one Hopi youth attacked a Spanish horse. The Spanish attacked, and even though the Hopi warriors out numbered the Spanish greatly, the Spanish defeated the Indian ranks. After that, Tovar had no need for fighting; the rest of the Indian tribes he met showered him with gifts. Although the Indians had no gold or silver, they did have important information. They said there was a large river to the west. The great river the Indians referred to is the Colorado River that flows into the Gulf of California. Tovar reported this news back to Coronado. Upon hearing about this great river, Coronado sent another mission to explore it. Coronado appointed Melchor Diaz to explore the Colorado River and southern California. When Coronado sent Diaz he had also hoped that Diaz would meet up with the expected ships on the coast of California. There Diaz could get much needed supplies for CoronadoÕs army. However, Diaz never encountered the Pacific Ocean. Instead, he did find the magnificent Colorado River, which, as the Spanish estimated, was over nine miles wide. When Diaz encountered the Colorado River he also met a group of Indians called the Yumas. The Yuma Indians were said to be extremely strong and very tall. They were even called ÒGiantsÓ by the Spaniards. Unfortunately, Diaz was unable to report his discoveries personally to Coronado; for he died when running into the back end of a lance. Apparently, Diaz had hurled the lance at a dog, in a fit of fury. The end of the lance stuck into the sand, and when Diaz ran into it he suffered from many internal injuries. His grave is said to be in southern California, although it has never been found. Coronado placed Don Hernando de Alvarado as the leader of the fourth expeditionary party. AlvaradoÕs instructions were to take 20 horsemen and explore the east. Alvarado also encountered Indians. The Indians were welcoming and kind to the Spanish. There had been rumors of strange beasts that looked like cows; which turned out to be the American bison. Alvarado started south of present-day Grants, New Mexico in search for these unusual animals. He was the first European to discover the American Bison or buffalo. When the Spanish saw them they were astounded. One Spanish soldier wrote: ÒWithin four days we came upon the cows, which are the most monstrous beasts ever seen or read about. . . . There are such multitudes of them that I do not know what to compare them with unless it be the fish in the sea.Ó Another major accomplishment Coronado made is when he traveled across Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, and many other modern day U.S states, he claimed all the land for Spain. Before Coronado left Quivira he raised a great cross. On it, with a chisel, he carved his name and said he had been there. The cross has not yet been found,but exists through records and documents written by the Spanish. For many people, this is the only story of Coronado they know. However, CoronadoÕs story and his failures go on. Coronado returned to Mexico City in 1542. In 1544 an official inquiry was made against Coronado. He was charged with corruption and negligence. Specifically he was said to have committed Ògreat cruelties toward the native Indians of the land through which he passed.Ó On this inquiry he was found innocent. However later in the year, he was again convicted for the same reason. This time he was found guilty of committing atrocities against the Indians. He was removed from his position as the governor of New Galicia. He never again attained a powerful position of leadership in New Spain. Coronado had not only failed in attempting to find gold, he had failed in fulfilling his duty as a governor. When summarizing CoronadoÕs life, it is clear that he failed in his main mission; to find gold in the ÒNew WorldÓ. However, Coronado did accomplish many things on his journeys. In a way a person might refer to Coronado as a Ôsuccessful failure.Õ Meaning that while he failed, he had unanticipated successes and discoveries that were of much greater importance. In your life, is it possible your failures could be viewed as successes?

By: Lindsey