Juan Vázquez de Coronado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Vázquez de Coronado
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| Birth name | Juan Vázquez de Coronado y Anaya |
| Born | 1523 Salamanca, Spain |
| Disappeared | |
| Allegiance |  Spain |
| Children | 1 |
Juan Vázquez de Coronado y Anaya (1523 – 1565) was a Spanish conquistador. He is best known for his important role in settling Costa Rica in Central America. People remembered him for being fair and managing things well. He also had good relationships with the native people there.
Juan was the nephew of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, another famous Spanish explorer. Francisco explored the southwestern United States between 1540 and 1542.
In 1565, King Philip II of Spain made Juan Vázquez de Coronado the first royal governor of Costa Rica. He was also given the special title of Adelantado, which could be passed down in his family. Sadly, his ship disappeared in a storm off the coast of southern Spain. This happened while he was on his way to officially receive his new titles.
He was married to Isabel, who was a niece of Pedro Arias Dávila. Pedro Arias Dávila was a key figure in the conquest of Panamá. Today, a part of San José Province in Costa Rica, called the Vázquez de Coronado Canton, is named in his honor.
His Life and Adventures
Juan Vázquez de Coronado was born in Salamanca, Spain, in 1523. He was the son of a well-known nobleman, Gonzalo Vásquez de Coronado.
When he was only 17 years old, Juan traveled to America. He first lived in Mexico and then in Guatemala. There, he began to hold important official jobs. He was a Deputy for the city council of Antigua Guatemala. He also served as a mayor in Guatemala City.
In 1548, he married Isabel Arias-Dávila. Her father and uncle were important conquerors in New Spain and Guatemala. After getting married, Juan moved to El Salvador. He was appointed the mayor of San Salvador in 1549. Later, he became mayor in Honduras in 1556 and in Nicaragua in 1561.
Becoming Governor of Costa Rica
In 1562, Juan Vázquez de Coronado arrived in Costa Rica. He became known for his peaceful and fair way of handling the conquest. Both the native people and the Spanish settlers respected and liked him very much.
In 1565, he traveled back to Spain. Because of his good work, King Philip II made him the Governor of Costa Rica. He also gave him the special, inherited title of Adelantado of Costa Rica. However, on his journey back to take up his new roles, his ship was lost in a storm. This happened near the coast of southern Spain.
Juan Vázquez de Coronado is a very important person in Costa Rican history. He was a conqueror, the first Governor, and the first Adelantado of Costa Rica. He is seen as one of the main builders of the nation. Many people in Costa Rica today are his descendants. In fact, a study showed that many of Costa Rica's leaders have come from his family line.
Family Legacy
Juan and his wife, Isabel, had at least one son named Gonzalo Vázquez de Coronado Arias. Gonzalo also had children, and his family line continued to be important. Many of Juan's descendants played key roles in the history of Central America. For example, one of his descendants, Evaristo Carazo Aranda, became the 42nd President of Nicaragua.
Sources
- Origin of Vásquez de Coronado family (in Spanish)
See also
In Spanish: Juan Vázquez de Coronado para niños
