Hernando de Soto

Timeline

1. c. 1514–1530Darién · AmericasDe Soto arrived at the Isthmus of Darién around 1514 with Pedrarias Dávila's expedition, beginning his New World career. He took part in numerous conquests in Panama and what are now Nicaragua and Honduras, rapidly accumulating wealth and military reputation as a cavalry commander. Before joining Pizarro he was already an influential figure in colonial Central American society.
2. 1531–1535Cajamarca · South AmericaDe Soto joined Pizarro's Peruvian expedition as a cavalry commander and played a key role at the Battle of Cajamarca in 1532—he was among the first Spaniards to enter the city and meet and negotiate with the Inca emperor Atahualpa, and according to accounts his warhorse's charge nearly touched Atahualpa's nose, leaving the Inca attendants frozen with fear. He then took part in the conquest of Cuzco, gaining much gold and wealth. After receiving his reward he returned to Spain in 1535.
3. 1536–1539Havana · AmericasBack in Spain, de Soto married Inés de Bobadilla, daughter of the explorer Dávila, and received from Charles V a charter as governor of Florida and conqueror of Florida. Spending his personal fortune over several years, he assembled an expedition of some 620 men in Havana, equipped with horses, weapons and supplies, and landed at Tampa Bay in present-day Florida in May 1539.
4. 1539–1542Mississippi River · North AmericaSetting out from Tampa Bay, de Soto's party travelled for nearly three years through present-day Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama and beyond, encountering many Native tribes and enduring battles, shortages of supplies and disease. In May 1541 his party reached the Mississippi River (then called the "Great River"), becoming the first recorded Europeans to cross it. They continued west into present-day Arkansas but fell into difficulty failing to find gold. De Soto died of illness on the banks of the Mississippi in May 1542, and his men sank his body in the river to keep his death from the Native Americans.