Francisco Vásquez de Coronado (1510–1554) was a sixteenth-century Spanish conquistador who became the first European to explore what is now the southwestern United States. In 1540 Coronado set off on an expedition in search of legendary cities of gold. In July 1540, Coronado and his men reached the Zuni pueblo of Hawikuh. There the Spanish announced the requerimiento, which demanded Indian submission to Spanish dominion, sparking a clash between the two groups. Coronado went on to meet more peacefully with Zuni leaders and pressed...