Hernando de Soto

Born around 1500 in Spain's Extremadura region as the second son of a minor noble, Hernando de Soto left home at age 13 to seek fortune in the New World, went to Panama with Pedrarias Davila after proving his military training, health, and means, and later joined Francisco Pizzaro's 1531 expedition to conquer Peru. In Peru, as an established military commander and wealthy landowner, he befriended the captive Incan emperor Atahualpa and argued for his life, but Pizzaro executed the emperor after receiving three rooms filled with gold, silver, and precious stones. Returning to Spain with his share of the Incan plunder, de Soto married Isabela de Bobadilla, daughter of Pedrarias, and by 1536 had become a renowned conquistador with a prominent place in the court of King Charles V. Still seeking power, he petitioned to colonize and rule La Florida, and in 1538 Charles V granted him a royal contract to govern Cuba and explore La Florida as governor and captain general.

Florida · United States