USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Seven Cities of Cibola | National Geographic. An 1898 painting by Frederic Remington portrays Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado on his ill-fated quest in 1541 to find the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola.

Detailed explanation-2: -De Coronado’s Search for the Seven Golden Cities By 1540, reports brought back from explorations made by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and confirmed by missionary Fray Marcos de Niza convinced Mendoza of the presence of vast riches to the north, located in the so-called Seven Golden Cities of Cíbola.

Detailed explanation-3: -Therefore, it is important to know the man who took the helm of this expedition into the northern reaches of contemporary Nueva España. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado y Luján was born to a noble family in Salamanca, Spain. His early history is somewhat uncertain, but he was thought to have been born in 1510.

Detailed explanation-4: -After reaching Culiacán, Coronado and 100 soldiers, anxious to behold Cibola, marched swiftly ahead of the slower-moving main army. On July 7, 1540, they arrived at Háwikuh, south of present-day Gallup, New Mexico, and first of the fabled Cities of Cibola. But a major disappointment awaited the Spaniards.

Detailed explanation-5: -However, his report also made mention of the “Seven Cities of Cibola.” Though Fray Marcos’ report was garbled and exaggerated, Viceroy Mendoza was convinced of the cities’ existence. He promptly began planning an official expedition and chose his close friend, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, to lead it.