Alvar Nunez
Cabeza De Vaca
The person that I am doing is a famous explorer from Spain. His name is… Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca. In English he was called Alvar Nunez Head of the Cow. Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca was a explorer, writer, and soldier. He was born in the year of 1490 in Jerez de Frontere in southern Spain. His father’s name was Francisco De Vera and his mother’s name was Teresa Cabeza De Vaca. As a young man Cabeza De Vaca chose a military career, serving in campaigns in Navarre and in Italy and also to help support his family. So to persuade by the year of 1513 he entered the service of the Duke of Medina Sidonia. And finally he persuaded his dreams and became a great soldier leading up to a explorer exploring the parts of the world, and up to a writer writing about his adventures and expeditions and his life that he once lived!
Sadly he only went on one voyage. This voyage was to travel to the North America from Spain. He was chosen by Panfilo de Naruaez from Spain who also is leading this voyage. Also by hearing stories about the New World De Vaca also decided to tag along to see it for himself, and by Panfilo’s permision he was welcomed aboard. But before they went on the Voyage Panifilo had been commissioned by Emperior Carlos V to colonize the entire Gulf Coast of the New World from Florida to Mexico. In the year of 1527 they left Spain on the Voyage to sail to the New World!
On July 17 1527 set sailed leaving Spain with 250 to 300 men aboard. Also including Alvar Nunez which was crowned treasuer of the expedition. At the begging of this voyage it started out well untill disaster strucked the ship. After a series of Hurricanes and storms only 80 brave men survived. Also soon after surviving a hurricane near Cuba the expedition landed on the west coast of Florida near Tampa Bay on April 1528 by 5 rafts,but unfortunately 3 sank which had brought 2 rafts filled with 80 men on land. This land was claimed for Spain. They also made some great discoveries after the 80 men was split into different groups. But by after many more disastors happening only 15 men had surrived including Alvar Nunez.
Well they didn’t find that much but they did find a few interesting things. Also one main discovery that they found there was people, Native people. And without these Native people trading with them for food, water, and clothing they wouldn’t survive on that land. This land was a very tropical place and many temperatures would become very hot, so they prayed for it to rain for fresh water to drink when they ran out of supplies to trade with the native people. Also for food they hunted animals. Many animals and places on this land was very new to them and also things that they have never seened or imagined. Many people couldn’t take the heat no more and died they also died from diseases that couldn’t be treated. The voyage was only left with four people which was Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Estevanico- a slave from North Africa, Alonzodel Castillo Maldonado, and Andres Dorantes de Carranza. Who were captured by Natives.
The Four men finally reached the Spain settlement of Culiacan in early 1536 8 years later after being stranded in Florida. Later that year they reached Mexico City where they were welcomed by the Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. After serving a Mexican Governor, Cabeza De Vaca traveled to Spain in the year of 1537 and published an account about his travels. His writing encouraged and enspirered many people that are Spanish explorers or to become one including those of Hernordo de Soto and Francisco Vasques de Coronado. In 1540 Cabeza De Vaca was appointed governor of the Spanish settlement to Rio de la Plane which is now called Paraguay. He explored the Paraguay River and in 1542 he was the first European to see Iguaca Falls. When he was being put on trial and was being carged with many offences including usurping the authority of the King of Spain the settlers threw him out of office. Then after he was found guilty he was tourchered with many things and after these horrible days he died miserably. But did he really desearve to die? Did he really do the things people said that he did?
Up above is the world famous Cabeza De Vaca! Also, right above him is my reaserch about him and his travels. Below here is Cabeza De Vaca's Route he took on his jouny to the New World!
ENJOY!!!
