What did Hernando de Soto gain for himself?

Hernando de Soto had gained 724 marks of gold, and 17,740 pesos, which was given to him by the King of Spain.

About Hernando de Soto

Hernando de Soto was a pivotal figure in the Age of Discovery, especially on the exploration and conquest of the Americas.

Born around 1500 in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain, de Soto’s early ventures included expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula.

His significance, however, soared during Francisco Pizarro’s conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru.

De Soto’s most renowned feat emerged when he led the first European expedition deep into the heart of the modern-day United States.

Charting a course through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and likely Arkansas, he became the first documented European to cross the mighty Mississippi River.

Venturing in search of gold and a passage to China or the Pacific coast, De Soto’s North American expedition covered the southeastern United States. Upon returning to Spain in 1536, he brought back wealth from the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.

Acknowledged for his contributions, de Soto was admitted into the prestigious Order of Santiago, granted the right to conquer Florida, and received considerable rewards from the King of Spain.

Tragically, on May 21, 1542, at the age of 41, de Soto died on the banks of the Mississippi River.

While sources differ on the exact location, his legacy endures as a trailblazer in the early colonial exploration of the Americas.