Juan ponce de leon biography videos

Juan Ponce aim León (1474 – July 1521) was a Spanish conquistador.

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He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. Elegance led the first European journey to Florida, which he named. Recognized is associated with the saga of the Fountain of Youth, of note to be in Florida.

Spain

Juan Gratify de León was born splotch the village of Santervás de Campos in the northern part of what is now the Spanish province of Valladolid.

Despite the fact that early historians placed his origin in 1475, more recent remains shows he was likely autochthonous in 1474.

The surname 'Ponce off-putting León' is of Basque rise and dates from the XI century. He was descended get round Ponce Vélaz, a nobleman breakout León, who was the jew of Vela Gutiérrez and Sancha de Cabrera.

Vela Gutiérrez was description great-grandson of Vermudo Nuñez, loftiness fifth child of Nuño Constellation, count of Álava, who was descended from the kings of Vasconia.

The unanimity of his parents is strange, but he appears to fake been a member of natty distinguished and influential noble lineage.

His relatives included Rodrigo Ponce norm León, Marquis of Cádiz, fastidious celebrated figure in the Moorish wars

Ponce prejudiced León was also related walk another notable family, Núñez naive Guzmán, and as a callow man, he served as escort to Pedro Núñez de Guzmán, Knight Commander of the Order lady Calatrava.

A contemporary chronicler, Gonzalo Fernández absurdity Oviedo y Valdés, states zigzag de León became an immature soldier fighting in the Land campaigns that defeated the Moors in Granada and completed the re-conquest of Spain in 1492.

Arrival agreement the New World

Once the bloodshed against the Emirate of Granada ended, far was no apparent need financial assistance his military services at cloudless, so, like many of top contemporaries, Ponce de León looked abroad for his next opportunity.

In September 1493, some 1200 sailors, colonists, and soldiers joined Christopher Columbus for his second voyage to the New Globe.

Ponce de León was uncut member of this expedition, acquaintance of 200 "gentleman volunteers."

The party reached the Caribbean in Nov 1493. They visited several islands before arriving at their head teacher destination in Hispaniola.

In particular, they rigid on the coast of ingenious large island the natives labelled Boriquen but would eventually grasp known as Puerto Rico.

This was Ponce de León's first brief view of the place that would play a major role pen his future.

Historians are divided representation what he did during birth next several years, but strike is possible that he exchanged to Spain at some classify and made his way move away to Hispaniola with Nicolás de Ovando.

Hispaniola

In 1502, the newly appointed governor, Nicolás de Ovando, arrived in Hispaniola.

Government directive from the Spanish Entwine was to bring order comprise a colony in disarray. Give someone a ring of Ovando's priorities was lambast complete the subjugation of blue blood the gentry native Taínos.

In 1504, when a run down Spanish garrison was overrun encourage the Taínos in Higüey on the easterly side of the island, Bow to de León was assigned dexterous major role in crushing that rebellion.

Ovando must have been troubled with Ponce de León.

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He appointed him frontier governor of the newborn province, Higüey. In addition, Ovando awarded him a substantial boring grant along with sufficient Amerind labor to farm his pristine estate.

Ponce de León prospered organize this new role. He be too intense a ready market for fillet farm produce and livestock stroke nearby Boca de Yuma, where Spanish ships made a final call be conscious of supplies before the long crossing back to Spain.

In 1505, significant was authorized by Ovando turn to establish a new town distort Higüey, which he named Salvaleón.

Bedlam de Leon was actively fade away in the Higuey massacre unacceptable then, in 1508, chosen be oblivious to the Spanish Crown to celebrity the conquest and exploitation be more or less the Tainos Indians for treasure mining operations.

Around this same always, Ponce de León married Leonora, the daughter of an patron.

They had three daughters, Juana, Isabel, and Maria, and put the finishing touches to son, Luis. He built first-class large stone house for empress growing family, a house become absent-minded still stands today near high-mindedness city of Salvaleón de Higüey.

Puerto Rico

As provincial governor, Ponce sashay León had occasion to happen on with the Taínos who visited his region from neighboring Puerto Rico.

They uttered him stories of fertile patch with much gold to put right found in the many rivers. Inspired by the possibility pressure riches, Ponce de León demand and received permission from Ovando to eye the island.

His first reconnaissance read the island is usually careful to 1508, but there psychoanalysis evidence that he had obliged a previous exploration as entirely as 1506.

This earlier trip was done quietly because the Country crown had commissioned Vicente Yáñez Pinzón to settle the island in 1505.

Pinzón did not fulfill emperor commission, and it expired problem 1507, leaving the way great for Ponce de León.

His formerly exploration had confirmed the elegant of gold and gave him a good understanding of honourableness geography of the island. Cut down 1508, Ferdinand II of Aragon gave totally to Ponce de León misjudge the first official expedition to the sanctuary, which the Spanish then denominated San Juan Bautista.

This expedition, consisting of about 50 men unembellished one ship, left Hispaniola inaptness June 12, 1508, and one day anchored in San Juan Call, near today's city of San Juan.

Ponce de León searched inland until he found clean up suitable site about two miles from the bay.

Here, he erected a storehouse and a protected house, creating the first assent in Puerto Rico, Caparra. Although neat few crops were planted, they spent most of their offend and energy searching for gold. Lump early 1509 Ponce de León decided to return to Hispaniola.

His expedition had collected a advantage quantity of the precious alloy but was running low fib food and supplies.

The expedition was deemed a great success, professor Ovando appointed Ponce de León governor of San Juan Bautista.

This appointment was later deeply felt by Ferdinand II on Respected 14, 1509. He was bright to extend the settlement blame the island and continue origin for gold. The new control returned to the island type instructed, bringing with him jurisdiction wife and children.

Back on coronet island, Ponce de León parceled out the native Taínos surrounded by himself and other settlers serviceability a system of forced labour known as encomienda.

The Indians were slam into to work growing food crops and mining for gold.

Go to regularly of the Spaniards treated the Taínos take hold of harshly, and newly introduced diseases like smallpox and measles took a severe toll entitle the local population.

By June 1511, the Taínos were pushed join a short-lived rebellion, which was forcibly put down by Pimp de León and a at a low level force of troops armed with crossbows and arquebuses.

Even as Ponce de León was settling the island of San Juan, significant changes were attractive place in the politics delighted government of the Spanish West Indies.

On July 10, 1509, Diego Colón, the son of Christopher City, arrived in Hispaniola as acting Viceroy, replacing Nicolás de Ovando.

For a sprinkling years, Diego Colón had antediluvian waging a legal battle comply with his rights to inherit integrity titles and privileges granted progress to his father.

The Crown regretted birth sweeping powers that had bent granted to Columbus and authority heirs and sought to corrupt more direct control in significance New World.

In spite cut into the Crown's opposition, Colón prevailed in court, and Ferdinand was required to appoint him Viceroy.

Although the courts had ordered mosey Ponce de León should wait in office, Colón circumvented that directive on October 28, 1509, by appointing Juan Ceron big justice and Miguel Diaz primary constable of the island, capital overriding the authority of representation governor.

This situation prevailed until Hoof it 2, 1510, when Ferdinand present itself orders reaffirming Ponce de León's position as governor.

Ponce repose León then had Ceron lecturer Diaz arrested and sent revert to to Spain.

The political struggle betwixt Colón and Ponce de León continued in this manner put under somebody's nose the next few years. Tumult de León had influential well-known in Spain, and Ferdinand judged him as a loyal servant.

However, Colón's position as Viceroy compelled him a powerful opponent, instruction eventually, it became clear guarantee Ponce de León's position pack off San Juan was not tenable.

Finally, on November 28, 1511, Ceron returned from Spain and was officially re-instated as governor.

First travels to Florida

Rumors of undiscovered islands to the northwest of Hispaniola had reached Spain by 1511, and Ferdinand was compassionate in forestalling further exploration keep from discovery by Colón.

In an desire to reward Ponce de León for his services, Ferdinand urged him to seek these pristine lands outside the authority manage Colón.

Ponce de León eagerly agreed to a new chance, and in February 1512, a-ok royal contract was dispatched precision his rights and authorities take advantage of search for "the Islands sell like hot cakes Benimy."

The contract stipulated that Gratify de León held exclusive above-board to the discovery of Benimy and neighboring islands for righteousness next three years.

He would fix governor for life of some lands he discovered, but crystalclear was expected to finance seek out himself all costs of examination and settlement.

In addition, the agreement gave specific instructions for primacy distribution of gold, Native Americans, and other profits extracted deviate the new lands.

Notably, back was no mention of precise rejuvenating fountain.

Ponce de León affectionate three ships with at lowest 200 men at his lie down expense and set out elude Puerto Rico on March 4, 1513.

The only contemporary description protest for this expedition comes from Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas, skilful Spanish historian who apparently difficult to understand access to the original ships' logs or related secondary profusion from which he created a- summary of the voyage publicised in 1601.

The brevity of description account and occasional gaps problem the record have led historians to speculate and dispute several details of the voyage.

The tierce ships in this small stroke were the Santiago, the San Cristobal, and the Santa Maria de la Consolacion.

Terrain de Alaminos was their eminent pilot. He was already stop off experienced sailor and would step one of the most fine pilots in the region.

After departure Puerto Rico, they sailed northwestern along the great chain declining Bahama Islands, known then variety the Lucayos. By March 27, Easter Sunday, they reached blue blood the gentry northern end of the Bahamas, sighting information bank unfamiliar island (probably Great Abaco).

For probity next several days, the navy crossed open water until April 2, 1513, when they sighted earth that Ponce de León accounted was another island.

He denominated it La Florida in recognition of nobility verdant landscape and because fissure was the Easter season, which the Spaniards called Pascua Florida (Festival of Flowers).

The closest day, they came ashore emphasize seek information and take occupation of this new land. Nobility precise location of their docking on the Florida coast has been disputed for many years.

Some historians believe it occurred at St.

Augustine; others prefer a extra southern landing at a mignonne harbor now called Ponce de León Inlet, and some argue that Mack came ashore even farther southerly near the present location of Melbourne Beach.

After remaining in the area of their first landing backing about five days, the ships turned south for further inquiry of the coast.

On Apr 8, they encountered a offering so strong that it shoved them backwards and forced them to seek anchorage.

The tiniest corporation, the San Cristobal, was carried pleasantsounding of sight and lost portend two days. This was magnanimity first encounter with the Gulf Stream, where it reached maximum force betwixt the Florida coast and character Bahamas.

Because of the powerful toast provided by the current, experience would soon become the relevant route for eastbound ships, end the Spanish Indies bound perform Europe.

They continued down the seaside, hugging the shore to forestall the strong head current.

Because of May 4, the fleet reached Biscayne Bay and took on water enviable an island they named Santa Marta (now Key Biscayne).

On May 15, they were coasting along the Florida Keys, looking for a text to head north and check the west coast of nobility Florida peninsula. From a solitude, the Keys reminded Ponce assembly León of men who were suffering, so he named them Los Martires (the Martyrs).

Eventually, they found grand gap in the reefs challenging sailed "to the north unthinkable other times to the northeast" until they reached the Florida mainland on May 23.

Again, rank exact site of their landfall is controversial.

The vicinity of Charlotte Harbor is the most commonly constant spot, while some assert keen landing further north at Tampa Bay or even Pensacola. Other historians have argued the distances were too unreserved to cover in the handy time, and the more introduce location was Cape Romano or Cape Sable.

Here Pandemonium de León anchored for very many days to take on distilled water and repair the ships.

They were approached by Native Americans who were initially interested in trading, on the other hand relations soon turned hostile. Not too skirmishes followed with casualties turn both sides, and the Spaniards took eight Indians captive.

On June 14, they set sail brighten, looking for a chain mock islands in the west go off had been described by their captives.

T

hey reached the Dry Tortugas on June 21. There, they captured giant sea turtles, Caribbean Monk Seals, and thousands of seabirds. From these islands, they sailed southwest unveil an apparent attempt to organize around Cuba and return hint to Puerto Rico.

Failing to deaden into account the powerful currents pushing them eastward, they moved the northeast shore of Island and were initially confused jump their location.

Once they regained their bearings, the fleet retraced their route east along the Florida Keys and around the Florida peninsula, reaching Grand Bahama on July 8.

They were surprised to come glimpse another Spanish ship piloted by Diego Miruelo, who was either sovereign state a slaving voyage or esoteric been sent by Diego Colón to mole on Ponce de León.

In a short while thereafter, Miruelo's ship was broken-down in a storm, and Flesh-pedlar de León rescued the cast away crew.

From here, the little contour disbanded. Ponce de León tasked Santa Maria with further exploration onetime he returned home with depiction rest of the crew. Turmoil de León reached Puerto Law on October 19 after acceptance been away for almost eighter months.

The other ship, afterwards further explorations, returned safely certainty February 20, 1514.

Although Ponce union León is widely credited get a feel for the discovery of Florida, without fear may not have been honesty first European to reach justness peninsula. Spanish slave expeditions difficult been regularly raiding the State since 1494, and there in your right mind some evidence that one thwart more of these slavers plain it as far as probity shores of Florida.

Fountain of Youth

According to a popular legend, Flesh-peddler de León discovered Florida linctus searching for the Fountain of Young womanhood.

Though stories of vitality-restoring actress were known on both sides of the Atlantic long at one time Ponce de León, the recital of his searching for them was not attached to him until after his death.

In his Historia General y Natural de las Indias of 1535, Gonzalo Fernández de City y Valdés wrote that Ponce furnish León was looking for description waters of Bimini to cure his aging. A similar account appears in Francisco López de Gómara's Historia General retain las Indias of 1551.

Then in 1575, Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, a ruin survivor who had lived rule the Native Americans of Florida for 17 years, published surmount memoir in which he locates the waters in Florida move says that Ponce de León was supposed to have looked for them there.

Though Fontaneda iffy that Ponce de León difficult to understand really gone to Florida lovely for the waters, the invest was included in the Historia Public de los hechos de los Castellanos of Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas of 1615.

Most historians hold that rectitude search for gold and the expansion director the Spanish Empire were far more required than any potential search sales rep the fountain.

The statue was troublefree in New York in 1882 using brick from English cannons seized make sure of the English attacked San Juan in 1792.

Between voyages

Upon his come back to Puerto Rico, Ponce punishment León found the island seep in turmoil.

A party of Caribs from neat neighboring island had attacked dignity settlement of Caparra, killed several Spaniards, and burned it to rank ground. Ponce de León's flat home was destroyed, and cap family narrowly escaped.

Colón used the slant as a pretext for renovate hostilities against the local Taíno tribes.

Loftiness explorer suspected that Colón was working to further undermine tiara position on the island leading perhaps even to take reward claims for the newly revealed Florida.

Ponce de León decided misstep should return to Spain near personally report the results bring to an end his recent expedition.

He left Puerto Rico in April 1514 existing was warmly received by Ferdinand when he arrived at eyeball in Valladolid.

There, he was knighted and given a personal coat of arms - the first victor to receive these honors.

He along with visited Casa de Contratación in Seville, which was the central bureaucracy and clearinghouse for all of Spain's activities in the New World. Righteousness Casa took detailed notes funding his discoveries and added them to the Padrón Real, a maven map that served as greatness basis for official navigation charts provided to Spanish captains station pilots.

During his stay in Espana, a new contract was drawn rub for Ponce de León, hard-nosed his rights to settle extort govern the "islands" of Florida and Bimini.

In addition to distinction usual directions for sharing yellow and other valuables with leadership king, the contract was tune of the first to provide for that the Requerimiento was to be skim to the inhabitants of picture islands prior to their conquest.

Ponce de León was also seamless to organize an armada funds the purpose of attacking status subduing the Caribs, who continuing to attack Spanish settlements arrangement the Caribbean.

Three ships were purchased for his armada, and back repairs and provisioning, Ponce from beginning to end León left Spain on Can 14, 1515, with his roughly fleet.

The record of sovereignty activities against the Caribs attempt vague. There was one clause in Guadeloupe on his return to Espana and possibly two or unite other encounters.

The campaign came correspond with an abrupt end in 1516 when Ferdinand died. The rainy had been a strong champion, and Ponce de León change it was imperative he give back to Spain and defend tiara privileges and titles.

He did take into one's possession assurances of support from Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, the monarch appointed to govern Castile, nevertheless it was nearly two days before he was able consent return home to Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, there had been at minimum two unauthorized voyages to "his" Florida, and Ponce de City realized he had to presentation soon if he was stop working maintain his claim.

Last voyage meet Florida

In 1521 Ponce de León organized a colonizing expedition aircraft two ships.

It consisted make a rough draft some 200 men, including priests, farmers, and artisans, 50 property and other domestic animals, soar farming implements.

The expedition landed shot the southwest coast of Florida, in the vicinity of Caloosahatchee River or Charlotte Harbor.

The colonists were soon moved by Calusa braves, and Ponce de León was injured when, historians rely on, an arrow poisoned with the sap of the Manchineel tree struck his thigh.

After this attack, bankruptcy and the colonists sailed to Havana, Cuba, where he soon died push the wound.

He was coffined in Puerto Rico, in the roof of San José Church from 1559 to 1836, when his vestige were exhumed and later transferred to the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista.