Coronado: Knight of Pueblos and Plains

by Herbert Eugene Bolton

Book Overview

Herbert Eugene Bolton's classic of southwestern history, first published in 1949, delivers the epic account of Francisco V squez de Coronado's sixteenth-century entrada to the North American frontier of the Spanish Empire. Leaving Mexico City in 1540 with some three hundred Spaniards and a large body of Indian allies, Coronado and his men--the first Europeans to explore what are now Arizona and New Mexico--continued on to the buffalo-covered plains...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826300073
• ISBN13: 9780826300072
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful part of Arizona history

This is my favorite book on the topic of the Spanish explorations into what is present-day America. In particular, this book covers the journey by Coronado through what is present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado & Kansas. The book is a fantastic historical account but also a very interesting read. The author does an admiral job of painting a fair picture of Coronado and thus doing his part to reject la leyenda negra! Even though the book is now more than 50 years old (!) it remains a very timely piece in Spanish Colonial history in the southwest.

An impressive and noble biography

Dr. Bolton has modified my view on Coronado considerably after reading his wonderful biography of the famous conquistador. Many people ideate Coronado as a bloodthirsty, overpowering man who unwontedly killed every Native American in his path for riches. Not so according to the unbiased research and scrutiny this author puts forth. After hearsay of gold, silver and wealth to be found in our present-day southwestern U. S., the Viceroy of Mexico sends Coronado with over 300 men, several hundred Mexican Indian allies, more than 1,000 horses and mules, sheep, etc. to the north in search of these fabled fortunes. Although the expedition as far as locating vast amounts of riches was a flop, Coronado's knowledge of the Indians and geography helped future generations of Mexico to settle and establish themselves in Arizona and New Mexico. One adventure after another awaits the Coronado Expedition and this is what makes the book a page turner. There were battles fought no doubt, but basically when no alternative to peace could be reached among the Native Americans. As Bolton asserts, Coronado was the "gentlemen's conqueror" and compared to Pizzaro, De Soto, Cortes and others his exploits were gentle and mild. An enjoyable and perceptive read.