Hernando De Soto Essay

Hernando de Soto was born in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain. Hernando de Soto explored for Spain. In the early 1530s, while on Francisco Pizarro’s expedition, de Soto helped conquer Peru. In 1539 he set out for North America, where he discovered the Mississippi River. While exploring Peru, in 1533, Hernando came upon a road leading to Cuzco, the capital of Peru’s Incan Empire. He played a fundamental role in organizing the conquest of Peru, and engaged in a successful battle to capture Cuzco. While de Soto became a wealthy man after his conquest of Peru, he stayed restless and desired to increase his wealth. Evidence of gold in the southeastern part of North America consequently spurred Hernando to organize an expedition in hopes to find another

New World empire to conquer or take over. Native American’s losses at Mabila (a battle) were staggering. Between twenty five hundred and five thousand men have died in this battle, most burning to death in the inferno that consumed the town.

Hernando de Soto explored from 1523-1542, which is when he died, May 21, 1542. Hernando de Soto had many explorations and some were longer than others. In 1523, Hernando de Soto went on his first expedition, under the command of Francisco Fernendez de Cardoba and explored Nicaragua and Honduras. Then in 1530, he appointed Regidor of Nicaragua and leads an expedition into Yucatan Peninsula. Two years later, in 1532, de Soto is appointed Second-in-Command on an expedition to Peru. A year later, in 1533, de Soto is sent on a 200 men scouting mission to see if the rumors about the Incan army was advancing their position was true. The rumors were in fact not true, they were false, and while he was absent, the other Spaniards attacked Cuzco, Peru. Hernando then became appointed Lieutenant of Governor of Cuzco, Peru. Then in 1536 Hernando de Soto is denied second in command of a new expedition and therefore leaves to return to Spain. A few years later de Soto explores more and heads back to Havana, Cuba. Then they began to head to Florida. It took them 12 days and they ended up landing in what is now present day Tampa

Bay. They went to Florida for intentions to find God, Glory, and Gold. About a year later, they arrive in Georgia. He claims land and enslaves and he fights the Native Americans he encounters. He then finds the Mississippi River. He is said to be the first one to cross it. A few months later, he discovered Hot Springs, Arkansas. Then a year later, Hernando de Soto gets ill with a fever and dies. He is said to be the first one to travel around the world, but really, it was his ship that made it around the world.