Why hernando de soto is famous

Although the Inca people paid an enormous ransom for their emperor, the Spanish executed him anyway and kept the money. Even though de Soto could have retired a wealthy man after collecting so much treasure during the Inca conquest, he decided to continue exploring.

King Charles I of Spain authorized him to conquer and colonize the region that is now the southeastern United States. He even crossed the Mississippi River but died from a fever by the banks of the Mississippi in De Soto is a member of the Explorer Hall of Fame, located in Genoa, Italy, but the vote to induct him was by no means unanimous, owing to the cruelty he often displayed to his enemies.

One wonders if he would have been a nicer man if he had followed his dream to be a car maker instead of explorer. Click here for other places to learn about this explorer. Upon leaving the principle city of the chiefdom, Soto took Coosa hostage in order to gain safe passage through the remaining villages and towns.

Once he reached the chiefdom of the Mabilas, ruled by Chief Tuskasoosa, Coosa was awarded his freedom. The governor passed through Tuskaloosa's land but not without trials. The largest battle fought between the Spaniards and Indians was the Battle of Mabila, where the nine hour fight claimed over Spanish lives and approximately 2, of the Mabila Indians' lives. In his continued quest for gold, Soto moved through Mississippi and Arkansas.

However, he did not make it out of North America alive. The governor died on May 21, , of fever. In order to perpetuate the deception of having the Indians believe he was a god, expedition members shrouded his body with blankets filled with sand and sank it in the Mississippi River.

Explore This Park. Hernando De Soto Library of Congress. On May 25 they landed at Tampa Bay. For the next three years, de Soto and his men explored the southeastern United States, facing ambushes and enslaving natives along the way.

After Florida came Georgia and then Alabama. In Alabama, de Soto encountered his worst battle yet, against Indians in Tuscaloosa.

Victorious, de Soto and his men next headed westward, serendipitously discovering the mouth of the Mississippi River in the process. De Soto's voyage would, in fact, mark the first time that a European team of explorers had traveled via the Mississippi River.

After crossing the Mississippi de Soto was struck with fever. He died on May 21, , in Ferriday, Louisiana. Members of his crew sank his body in the river that he had discovered. By that time, almost half of de Soto's men had been taken out by disease or in battle against the Indians. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!