Hernando de Soto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hernando de Soto
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| Born | 27 October, c. 1500 |
| Died | 21 May 1542 (aged 41) Bank of Mississippi River, present-day Ferriday, Louisiana
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| Nationality | Castilian |
| Occupation | Explorer and conquistador |
| Spouse(s) | Isabel de Bobadilla |
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Hernando de Soto (around 1500 – May 21, 1542) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. A conquistador was a Spanish soldier who explored and conquered new lands for Spain. De Soto led the first European journey deep into what is now the southeastern United States. He was looking for gold and a way to reach China or the Pacific Ocean. He was also the first European to cross the mighty Mississippi River.
Contents
Early Life
Hernando de Soto was born around 1500 in Extremadura, Spain. His parents were part of the Spanish nobility, called hidalgos. From a young age, De Soto dreamed of becoming an explorer. His home region was poor, and many young people looked for ways to find wealth elsewhere. This was especially true after Christopher Columbus discovered new lands.
Adventures in the New World
De Soto sailed to the New World with Pedro Arias Dávila, who became the first Governor of Panama. In 1520, he joined an expedition to Veragua. In 1524, he helped conquer Nicaragua under Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. During these trips, he became known as a tough conquistador. He was an excellent horseman, fighter, and smart planner.
In 1530, de Soto became a leader in León, Nicaragua. He led a trip along the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. He was searching for a passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. This passage was very important for trading with the Orient, which was the richest market in the world. His search for a passage failed. Without money to explore more, de Soto joined Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro was about to leave for what is now Peru. Pizarro quickly made de Soto one of his main captains.
Conquering Peru
De Soto led one of the three groups of soldiers on horseback in the Battle of Cajamarca. This battle happened on November 16, 1532. The Spanish ambushed and captured the Inca ruler Atahualpa. The Spanish held Atahualpa in Cajamarca for months. His people paid a huge ransom to free him. They filled a room with gold and silver. During this time, de Soto became friends with Atahualpa. He even taught Atahualpa how to play chess.
Once the ransom was paid, the Spanish worried about rumors of an Inca army coming. Pizarro sent de Soto with 200 soldiers to check for this army. While de Soto was away, the Spanish decided to kill Atahualpa to prevent his rescue. De Soto returned and reported that he found no army. After Atahualpa was killed, Pizarro and his men went to Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire. After a fierce battle, the Inca army left. The Spanish then took a lot of gold and silver from Cuzco. De Soto received a large share of this treasure, which made him very rich.
By 1534, de Soto was helping to govern Cuzco. Pizarro was building a new capital city on the coast, which later became Lima. In 1535, King Charles gave Diego de Almagro, Pizarro's partner, control of the southern part of the Inca Empire. De Almagro planned to explore and conquer what is now Chile. De Soto wanted to be his second-in-command, but de Almagro said no. After this, de Soto took his treasure and went back to Spain.
Back in Spain
De Soto returned to Spain in 1536. He received a lot of gold and silver from the King of Spain. He married Isabel de Bobadilla, whose father was Pedro Arias Dávila. Isabel was also related to a close friend of Queen Isabella.
King Charles made de Soto the governor of Cuba. He was also expected to start a Spanish colony in North America within four years. For this, his family would receive a large piece of land. De Soto left Havana with 620 Spanish and Portuguese volunteers. They sailed on seven ships and two caravels. They carried heavy armor and equipment. They also brought over 500 animals, including 237 horses and 200 pigs. These were for their planned four-year journey across the continent.
De Soto's Journey in North America
Historians have studied old writings to figure out where de Soto's expedition went. Four main accounts describe the journey. These include a report by a Portuguese knight, a report by the King's agent, and a diary kept by de Soto's secretary. Another account was written by Garcilaso de la Vega, who interviewed survivors many years later.
These writings describe de Soto's path from Havana. They mention the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and high mountains. They also talk about many large rivers and swamps. Since the land hasn't changed much, experts use these old journals and modern maps to guess de Soto's exact route.
1539: Exploring Florida
The Spanish words say:
"HERNANDO DE SOTO: From Extremadura, one of the discoverers and conquerors of Peru: he traveled across all of Florida and defeated its previously unbeatable natives, he died on his expedition in the year 1542 at the age of 42".
In May 1539, de Soto landed with nine ships. He had over 620 men and 220 horses. They landed near what is now south Tampa Bay. Some historians think they landed at Charlotte Harbor. De Soto named the land Espíritu Santo, meaning "Holy Spirit." The ships carried priests, builders, engineers, farmers, and traders. Some brought their families. Most were from Europe and Africa. Few of these men had traveled far from their homes before.
Near where de Soto landed, his group found Juan Ortiz. Ortiz was a Spaniard who had been living with the Mocoso people. He had been captured by the Uzita while looking for a lost expedition. He later escaped to the Mocoso. Ortiz had learned the Timucua language. He became de Soto's interpreter as they traveled through areas where Timucua was spoken.
Ortiz helped the expedition guide their way and talk with different tribes. These tribes spoke many different languages. Ortiz found guides from each tribe along the route. This created a chain of communication. A guide from one area could share information and language with a guide from a nearby area. De Soto also had a young guide named Perico, or Pedro. He was about seventeen and from what is now Georgia. Perico spoke several local languages and could talk with Ortiz.
The expedition traveled north, exploring Florida's West Coast. They faced attacks and fights with native groups. The army fought two battles with Timucua groups. Many Timucua warriors died in these battles. After defeating the Timucuan warriors, Hernando de Soto had many of them killed. This event was called the Napituca Massacre. It was one of the first large killings by Europeans in what became the U.S. De Soto's first winter camp was at Anhaica. This was the capital of the Apalachee people. It is one of the few places where archaeologists have found signs of the expedition.
1540: Through the Southeast
The expedition heard about gold being found "toward the sun's rising." So, they turned northeast through what is now Georgia. In 2009, archaeologists found signs of de Soto's expedition in Telfair County.
The expedition continued to present-day South Carolina. There, a female chief called Cofitachequi welcomed them. She gave the Spanish soldiers pearls, food, and other goods. However, the expedition found no gold, except for some pieces from an earlier trip to the coast.
De Soto then went north into the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina. He stayed there for a month, resting the horses while his men looked for gold. Next, de Soto entered eastern Tennessee. Most archaeologists believe he then traveled along the Tennessee River into Alabama.
De Soto's expedition spent another month in the Coosa chiefdom. This area was part of the large and complex Mississippian culture. This culture spread throughout the Mississippi Valley. De Soto then turned south toward the Gulf of Mexico to meet two ships bringing fresh supplies from Havana. De Soto demanded servants from the chief, Tuskaloosa. When Tuskaloosa refused, the Spanish took him hostage. Tuskaloosa eventually agreed to de Soto's demands and provided people to carry things for the Spaniards. De Soto gave the chief boots and a red cloak as a reward.
However, the Mobilian tribe, led by Chief Tuskaloosa, ambushed de Soto's army. Other stories say de Soto's men were attacked after trying to force their way into Tuskaloosa's cabin. The Spanish fought their way out and burned the town to the ground. During this nine-hour battle, about 200 Spaniards died, and 150 more were badly hurt. They killed an estimated 2,000 to 6,000 warriors at Mabila. This made it one of the bloodiest battles in North American history.
The Spanish won, but they lost most of their supplies and nearly a quarter of their horses. The Spaniards were wounded and sick. They were surrounded by enemies and had no equipment in an unknown land. De Soto feared that if his men reached the ships at Mobile Bay, word of this disaster would get back to Spain. So, he led them away from the Gulf Coast. They moved into inland Mississippi, likely near present-day Tupelo. They spent the winter there.
1541: Heading West
On May 8, 1541, de Soto's troops reached the Mississippi River.
De Soto didn't care much about the river itself. He saw it as a problem getting in the way of his mission. There has been a lot of research to find the exact spot where de Soto crossed the Mississippi River. In 1935, a special group decided that Sunflower Landing, Mississippi, was the "most likely" crossing place. De Soto and his men spent a month building flatboats. They crossed the river at night to avoid the Native Americans who were watching the river. De Soto often had conflicts with the native people in this area.
Later research suggests other places might have been the crossing site. These include Commerce, Friars Point, and Walls in Mississippi, as well as Memphis, Tennessee. Once across the river, the expedition continued west through modern-day Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. They spent the winter in Autiamique, on the Arkansas River.
After a difficult winter, the Spanish expedition moved on. Their interpreter, Juan Ortiz, had died. This made it much harder for them to get directions, find food, and talk with the Native Americans. The expedition went as far inland as the Caddo River. There, they fought with a Native American tribe called the Tula in October 1541. The Spaniards described them as the most skilled and dangerous warriors they had met. This might have happened near Caddo Gap, Arkansas. Eventually, the Spaniards returned to the Mississippi River.
Death of De Soto
De Soto died of a fever on May 21, 1542. He died in the native village of Guachoya. Historical records disagree on whether he died near present-day McArthur, Arkansas, or in Louisiana. Louisiana has a historical marker at the estimated site.
Before he died, de Soto chose Luis de Moscoso Alvarado to take command of the expedition.
The Expedition Returns to Mexico City
De Soto's expedition had explored La Florida for three years. They did not find the treasures they hoped for, nor a good place to start a colony. They had lost almost half their men and most of their horses. By this time, the soldiers were wearing animal skins for clothes. Many were hurt and sick. The leaders decided to end the expedition and find a way home. They could go down the Mississippi River or travel overland across Texas to the Spanish colony of Mexico City.
They decided that building boats would take too long. Also, sailing through the Gulf of Mexico was too risky. So, they headed overland to the southwest. They eventually reached a dry area in present-day Texas. The native people there were mostly hunter-gatherers. The soldiers found no villages to raid for food. Their army was still too big to live off the land. They were forced to go back to the farming areas along the Mississippi River. There, they began building seven small boats called bergantines, or pinnaces. They melted down all their iron, including horse gear and slave chains, to make nails for the boats. They survived through the winter. Spring floods delayed them for two more months. By July, they set off in their makeshift boats down the Mississippi River toward the coast.
The journey took about two weeks. Along the way, the expedition met hostile groups in war canoes. One powerful chief, Quigualtam, led a fleet that followed the boats. They shot arrows at the soldiers for days as they floated through their land. The Spanish had no good weapons for fighting on the water. Their crossbows had stopped working. They used armor and sleeping mats to block the arrows. About 11 Spaniards were killed during this part of the journey, and many more were wounded.
When they reached the mouth of the Mississippi, they stayed close to the Gulf shore, heading south and west. After about 50 days, they reached the Pánuco River and the Spanish town of Pánuco. They rested there for about a month. Many Spaniards, now safe, thought they had left La Florida too soon. But when the Viceroy of Mexico, Don Antonio de Mendoza, offered to lead another expedition to La Florida, few of the survivors volunteered. Out of about 700 people who started, between 300 and 350 survived. Most of the men stayed in the New World, settling in Mexico, Peru, Cuba, and other Spanish colonies.
Effects of the Expedition in North America
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The Spanish thought de Soto's trip to Florida was a failure. They didn't find any gold and didn't start any colonies. However, the records from the expedition greatly increased European knowledge. They learned about the land, plants, animals, and people of the New World. These records are the only European accounts of the culture and habits of North American native tribes before other Europeans arrived. De Soto's men were among the first and last Europeans to see the villages and way of life of the Mississippian culture.
Also, de Soto's expedition claimed large parts of North America for Spain. After the expedition, the Spanish focused their efforts in Florida and along the Pacific coast.
The expedition also played a part in the Columbian Exchange. For example, some of the pigs de Soto brought escaped. They became the ancestors of wild "razorback" pigs in the southeastern United States.
De Soto's journey helped create a difficult relationship between many Native American tribes and Europeans. When his expedition met hostile natives, it was often his men who started the fights.
The expedition had a very negative impact on the native people. Locals did not have the same protection against diseases that Europeans had. So, Native Americans may have suffered from diseases like measles, smallpox, and chicken pox after contact with the Europeans. Several areas where the expedition traveled became empty of people. This was likely due to diseases brought by the Europeans.
Interesting Facts About Hernando de Soto
- Three towns in Spain claim to be de Soto's birthplace: Badajoz, Barcarrota, and Jerez de los Caballeros.
- In his will, De Soto wanted to be buried in Jerez de los Caballeros. But the exact place where he is buried is not known. De Soto wanted the native people to believe he was a god. He called himself an "immortal Son of the Sun." After he died, his men wanted to hide his death. One story says de Soto's men wrapped his body in blankets, weighted it with sand, and sank it in the middle of the Mississippi River at night.
- DeSoto Site Historic State Park is in Tallahassee, Florida. It's a park meant to help research and teach about the area's history. This history starts with Hernando de Soto using the site as a winter camp in 1539.
- When he died, de Soto owned four Native American slaves, three horses, and 700 hogs.
Places and Things Named After De Soto
Many parks, towns, counties, and schools have been named after Hernando de Soto. Here are some examples:
Places
- De Soto, Georgia
- De Soto, Illinois
- De Soto, Iowa
- De Soto, Kansas
- De Soto, Mississippi
- De Soto, Missouri
- De Soto, Nebraska
- De Soto, Wisconsin
- DeSoto, Texas
- DeSoto Caverns, Alabama
- DeSoto County, Florida
- DeSoto County, Mississippi, and its main town, Hernando
- DeSoto Falls, in DeSoto State Park, Alabama
- DeSoto Falls, in Lumpkin County, Georgia
- DeSoto Lake, Georgia
- De Soto National Forest, in Mississippi
- De Soto National Memorial, near Bradenton, Florida. This marks a possible landing spot for the expedition.
- DeSoto Parish, Louisiana
- DeSoto Site Historic State Park, Florida
- DeSoto State Park, Alabama
- Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida
- Hernando, Mississippi
- Hernando, Florida
- Hernando County, Florida
Other Things
- DeSoto automobile line made by the Chrysler Corporation
- De Soto Heritage Festival
- DeSoto Central High School, in Southaven, Mississippi
- DeSoto County High School, in Arcadia, Florida
- DeSoto Hilton Hotel, Savannah, Georgia
- De Soto High School, in De Soto, Kansas
- De Soto High School, in De Soto, Missouri
- DeSoto High School, in DeSoto, Texas
- De Soto High School, in De Soto, Wisconsin
- Hernando de Soto Bridge, which carries Interstate 40 across the Mississippi River at Memphis (opened in 1973)
- PS 130, Hernando Desoto, a public school in New York City
- The De Soto School, a private school in Helena, Arkansas
- USS De Soto (1859), a Navy ship that served during the American Civil War
- USS De Soto (1860), a riverboat that was later renamed General Lyon
- USS DeSoto County (LST-1171)
See also
In Spanish: Hernando de Soto para niños
