USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Juan de Onate’s was selected to lead a Spanish expedition of settlers into New Mexico because he was persistent and wealthy. He was not the best man for the position. The journey was a result of his own urgings.

Detailed explanation-2: -In 1601, Oñate undertook a large expedition east to the Great Plains region of central North America. The expedition party included 130 Spanish soldiers and 12 Franciscan priests-similar to the expedition of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire-and a retinue of 130 American Indian soldiers and servants.

Detailed explanation-3: -The first major expedition into New Mexico sanctioned by the Spanish Crown finally got off in 1598 when, after a two-year delay, 50 year-old Don Juan de Oñate set out from Mexico City with 500 people.

Detailed explanation-4: -His stated objective was to spread Roman Catholicism by establishing new missions in Nuevo México. He began the expedition in 1598, fording the Rio Grande (Río del Norte) near present day El Paso in late April.

Detailed explanation-5: -Juan de Oñate, (born 1550?, New Spain-died 1630), conquistador who established the colony of New Mexico for Spain. During his despotic governorship, he vainly sought the mythical riches of North America and succeeded instead in unlocking the geographical secrets of what is now the southwestern United States.