In Panama with Pedrarias Lessons Learned in Peru

Hernando
de
Soto
Off to Seek His Fortune
ra
ry
Hernando de Soto,
second son of a
country hidalgo,
or minor noble,
was born around
1500 in the
Extremadura
region of Spain.
At age 14,
he left home
to seek his
fortune in the
New World.
After proving
he had the
military training,
health, and funds
A youthful Hernando de Soto
Portrait by J. Sartain and R. Telfer (1858)
to be a worthy
crew member, De
Soto left for Panama. He accompanied the
expedition of Pedrarias Dávila, “El Furor
Domini” or “The Scourge of God,” a man
renowned for his inhumane treatment of
native peoples.
w
Ne
rk
Yo
P
L
lic
ub
ib
Lessons Learned in Peru
After returning to
Spain with his share
of the Incan plunder,
he married Isabella
de Bobadilla, the
daughter of his
former commander
Pedrarias. By1536,
De Soto had
become a renowned
conquistador,
earning a prominent
place in the court
of King Charles V.
1562 map of Spanish holdings in the New World
Cartography by Diego Gutiérrez
An Expedition of His Own
De Soto still desired the one thing he had been denied
his whole life — power. He petitioned the king to allow
him to colonize and rule the land known as La Florida.
In 1538, King Charles V granted him an asiento, or royal
contract, to govern Cuba and explore La Florida —
De Soto’s expedition was launched.
“The Emp
eror our lord
made Herna
Soto as his G
ndo de
overnor and
Captain Gen
island and p
e ra l o f t h e
rovince of Flo
rida and its
on the mainl
annexes
and , to the n
orthern part
adelantado J
that the
u a n Po n c e d
e Leon had d
iscovered .”
— Ac c o u n t b
y Ro d r i g o R
angel
The De So
t o C h ro n i c
le s
Library of Congress
Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz/Art Resource
In 1531, as an
established military
commander and
wealthy landowner,
De Soto joined
Francisco Pizzaro’s
expedition to conquer
Peru. There, he
befriended Atahualpa,
the Incan Emperor held
hostage by Pizzaro.
Atahualpa, the thirteenth and last
De Soto argued for
emperor of the Inca (16th century)
the emperor’s life.
Regardless, after Atahualpa handed over three
rooms filled with gold, silver, and precious
stones, Pizzaro had the
Emperor executed.
Back Home
to Spain
Library of Congress
In Panama with Pedrarias
Hernando de Soto’s ships from the Spanish
port of Seville, April 7, 1538
Engraving by John William Orr (1858)
De Soto’s men carried armor such as this
burgonet helmet, dagger, and crossbow.
De Soto National Memorial