A Journey with Francisco Vázquez de Coronado

A Journey with Francisco Vázquez de Coronado — page 3
CHAPTER 1 BECOMING A GOVERNOR This portrait of Coronado shows what he may have looked like It was created long after the explorer lived so it is not a primary source Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was born in Salamanca Spain around 1510 He was the second son of Isabel de Luján His older brother was named Gonzalo His father Juan Vázquez de Coronado was an upper class official He worked for Iñigo López de Mendoza the governor of Granada Spain Mendoza had a son named Antonio who was friends with Francisco Francisco was about eight years old in 1519 when Spanish conquistadores invaded Mexico Hernán Cortés came to Mexico with about five hundred soldiers He also recruited Native peoples who were against the ruling Aztecs Their combined forces conquered the Aztec capital within two years