When was esteban dorantes born

North African slave of black race who became a respected Scout in the Spanish expeditions of America. Estevanico departed for the new world in an expedition that left Spain in in order to conquer and colonize Florida. More than six hundred men, formed it initially although arriving at Santo Domingo a shipwreck which produced many defections took place. From there they went to Cuba, and the day of good Friday in , after a full crossing of incidents, landed on the coast of Florida in what is now Tampa Bay.

For almost a year the expedition wandered through the swamps and jungles of the peninsula, where was constantly harassed by Indians who, along with hunger and diseases, caused a tremendous mortality. The enormous difficulties, they decided to return to Mexico along the coast with a few rudimentary boats that were also shipwrecked. When the three European survivors refused to lead an expedition to the north, Don Antonio de Mendoza, the Viceroy of New Spain, engaged the services of Esteban, purchasing him from Dorantes.

Protocol demanded, however, that a slave could not lead an expedition. Hence, Mendoza persuaded a Franciscan friar, Marcos de Niza, to at least nominally head the venture.

The group set out in By prior agreement, Esteban traveled several days ahead of Fray Marcos, leaving behind him a trail of crosses of varying size, corresponding with his findings. All went well until he reached Hawikuh, a Zuni pueblo located just east of the present Arizona-New Mexico border. To his detriment, Esteban ignored the warning.

Word of his death reached Fray Marcos, who gazed at Hawikuh from afar, then headed back to Mexico City, claiming to have discovered the fabled golden city of Cibola. To the Native people, Esteban was the harbinger of the European conquest to come.

In , the four escaped inland and lived among another Indian tribe who coerced them into becoming medicine men. Their methods proved effective, and their reputation as healers spread far and wide.

The Indians respectfully called them "The Children of the Sun" because they traveled from the east to the west. Estevanico was especially gifted in languages, and became fluent in several Indian dialects. He carried a medicine rattle, a feathered, beaded gourd given to him by a chief, as his good luck symbol and trademark.

Thousands of Indians took turns guiding the travelers through each of their respective lands. From there they traveled to Mexico City, arriving in July of that year. The Viceroy of Mexico was eager to hear their story, and asked them to lead an expedition back into Arizona and New Mexico. All but Estevanico refused. In February of , he led a small reconnaissance party on foot northward from Culiacan, Mexico.