The FIERCE Native American Tribe That Resisted SPANISH Invaders

Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He is best known for leading the first European expedition deep into modern-day United States territory (including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mississippi). He is the first European recorded to have crossed the Mississippi River in 1540.

De Soto's mission was an enormous endeavor. The conquistador traveled throughout what is now the southeastern United States in search of gold, which had been reported by numerous Native American tribes and earlier coastal explorers, as well as a way to China or the Pacific coast.

Hernando de Soto’s arrival in the Tampa Bay area marked the beginning of one of the most ambitious and harrowing explorations of what is now the southeastern United States. This region, known for its lush, untamed landscapes and diverse Indigenous cultures, served as the starting point for De Soto’s arduous expedition in search of wealth and glory.