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Panfilo de Narváez
Spanish Soldier, Explorer, Early Conquistadors
 Narváez played an
important role under Diego Velasquez in the conquest of Cuba in 1511. He
was rewarded with public office and land grants.In 1520, Velasquez chose Narváez to lead an expedition into Mexico to
capture and replace Hernan Cortes, who had recently been charged with
Treason. Cortes, however, took control of Narváez’s forces and even took
Narváez alive and was kept as a prisoner for over a year, until he was
released to Cuba by order of Spain.Narváez’s next expedition was in 1527 to Florida, which he explored
extensively and made future plans to exploit. He landed in Tampa Bay,
claimed the land for Spain and then attempted to conquer the area but
was repelled by the local natives. His men then commenced a difficult
journey along the Gulf Coast of what is now the United States to arrive,
two years later, in present day Galveston.Narváez built crude boats in an attempt to move his men to the next
Spanish settlement, but off the shore of Galveston Island, Narváez was
swept out to sea and lost, while the remaining Spaniards were quickly
captured by native American Indians. Cabeza de Vaca and three others
escaped, ultimately making their way on foot through what is now the
southwest United States and Northern Mexico, eventually reaching a
Spanish settlement. |
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