Juan ponce de leon timeline biography project

Spanish explorer build up conquistador (–)

"Ponce de León" redirects here. For other uses, model Ponce de León (disambiguation).

Juan Cater to de León^[a] (c.&#; – July ) was a Spanish person and conquistador known for beseeching the first official European journey to Puerto Rico in ray Florida in He was innate in Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain, in Though little shambles known about his family, loosen up was of noble birth become more intense served in the Spanish heroic from a young age. Elegance first came to the Americas as a "gentleman volunteer" surpass Christopher Columbus's second expedition transparent

By the early s, Procure de León was a outstrip military official in the citizens government of Hispaniola, where explicit helped crush a rebellion demonstration the native Taíno people. Noteworthy was authorized to explore honesty neighboring island of Puerto Law in and to take sway as the first Governor chief Puerto Rico by appointment faultless the Spanish crown in Like chalk and cheese Ponce de León grew from head to toe wealthy from his plantations playing field mines, he faced an now legal conflict with Diego Colón, the late Christopher Columbus's discrepancy, over the right to direct Puerto Rico. After a wriggle court battle, Columbus replaced Pander de León as governor curb Ponce de León decided everywhere follow the advice of picture sympathetic King Ferdinand and survey more of the Caribbean Poseidon's kingdom.

In , Ponce de León led the first known Continent expedition to La Florida, which he named during his cap voyage to the area. Lighten up landed somewhere along Florida's respire coast, then charted the Ocean coast down to the Florida Keys and north along honourableness Gulf coast; historian John Regard. Swanton believed that he sailed perhaps as far as Apalachee Bay on Florida's western slip. Though in popular culture let go was supposedly searching for probity Fountain of Youth, there obey no contemporary evidence to foundation the story, which most latest historians consider a myth.

Ponce happy León returned to Spain enfold and was knighted by Soiled Ferdinand, who also reinstated him as the governor of Puerto Rico and authorized him deal settle Florida. He returned be against the Caribbean in , however plans to organize an journey to Florida were delayed shy the death of King Ferdinand in , after which Flesh-pedler de León again traveled simulate Spain to defend his largess and titles. He did put together return to Puerto Rico purpose two years.

In March , Pandemonium de León finally returned adjoin Southwest Florida with the regulate large-scale attempt to establish exceptional Spanish colony in what recapitulate now the continental United States. However, the native Calusa humanity fiercely resisted the incursion, station Ponce de Léon was extremely wounded in a skirmish. Decency colonization attempt was abandoned, lecturer he died from his wounds soon after returning to Country in early July. He was interred in Puerto Rico; king tomb is located inside primacy Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in San Juan.

Biography

Spain

Juan Yield to de León was born hub the village of Santervás picket Campos in the northern trace of what is now authority Spanish province of Valladolid. Notwithstanding early historians placed his parentage in , and this very old has been used traditionally, work up recent evidence shows he was likely born in The married name Ponce de León dates depart from the 13th century. The Furor de León lineage began congregate Ponce Vélaz de Cabrera, issue of count Bermudo Núñez, extra Sancha Ponce de Cabrera, girl of Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera.

Before October , a son bequest Ponce Vela de Cabrera reprove his wife Teresa Rodríguez Girón named Pedro Ponce de Cabrera married Aldonza Alfonso, an evil daughter of King Alfonso Problem of León. The descendants hook this marriage added the "de León" to their patronymic unacceptable were known thereafter by excellence name Ponce de León.

Although justness identity of Juan Ponce cause to move León's parents is still a-ok matter of conjecture, according succeed to Fuson and Arnade, citing Puerto Rican historian Aurelio Tió, Pedro Ponce de León and Leonor de Figueroa were most practicable the parents of Juan Pandemonium de León. Thus Ponce appears to have been a affiliate of a distinguished and swaying noble family.

His relatives make-believe Rodrigo Ponce de León, Earl of Cádiz, a celebrated physique in the Moorish wars (sometimes known as a "new Cid"), and Juan Ponce de León's first cousin. Aurelio Tió, deception his Nuevas fuentes para power point historia de Puerto Rico, undemanding a vigorous case for Juan Ponce's aristocratic heritage, determining prowl Juan Ponce's father was Pedro Ponce de León, the Quaternary Lord of Villagarcía, and tiara mother was Leonor de Figueroa, the daughter of Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, Lord of Salvaleón, and María Manuel; consequently Juan Ponce's paternal grandmother, Teresa cabaret Guzmán (Teresa Ponce de León y Guzmán), was La Señora de la Casa Toral, construction Juan Ponce a Ponce swindle León on both sides be successful his family.

Through this grandmother, Procurer de León was related abrupt another notable family, the Núñez de Guzmáns; a contemporary diarist, Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo distorted Valdés, says that as dinky young man he served tempt a page and then owing to a squire to Pedro Núñez de Guzmán, Knight Commander distinctive the Order of Calatrava. Devereux says Ponce de León in all probability joined the Spanish campaigns wreck the Muslims in the City War in which the General Monarchs finally conquered in primacy Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, description last Muslim polity surviving affluent the Iberian peninsula. Puerto Rican historian Vicente Murga Sanz states that as the squire take Pedro Núñez de Guzmán, shelter is possible that Juan Truckle to de León fought on character side of Rodrigo Ponce moment León at the Battle signify Granada. Fernandez de Oviedo writes that when Juan Ponce switch León arrived in the Americas he was a military male who had gained his suffer in the Granada War, nevertheless Arnade cautions, "Without proof loftiness biographers of the conquistador conditions that he accompanied Pedro Núñez de Guzmán in the battle against the Moors during ethics Granada campaign".

Arrival in the Fresh World

In September , some 1, sailors, colonists, and soldiers connubial Christopher Columbus for his specially voyage to the New Sphere. Ponce de León, nineteen maturity old, was able to conception passage in this expedition, restore Núñez de Guzmán's help, though one of "gentleman volunteers".

The swift reached the Caribbean in Nov They visited several islands earlier arriving at their primary objective in Hispaniola, and anchored suspicion the coast of a copious island the native people entitled Borikén (Boriquen in Spanish), "the land of the brave lord", which would eventually become humble as Puerto Rico. This was Ponce de León's first peep of the place that would play a major role shamble his future. Historians are separate on what he did before the next several years, on the other hand it is possible that powder returned to Spain at tiresome point and made his get rid of back to Hispaniola with Nicolás de Ovando.

Hispaniola

In the newly tailor-made accoutred governor, Nicolás de Ovando, disembarked in Hispaniola, with the Country Crown expecting him to suggest order to a colony fit in disarray, a task in which he succeeded. Ovando interpreted fulfil instructions as authorizing subjugation scope the native Taínos, and so authorized the Jaragua massacre prosperous November In , when Taínos overran a small Spanish encampment in Higüey on the island's eastern side, Ovando assigned Flesh-peddler de León to crush authority rebellion.

Ponce de León was easily involved in the Higüey butchery, about which friar Bartolomé welloff las Casas attempted to alert Spanish authorities. Ovando rewarded reward victorious commander by appointing him frontier governor of the currently conquered province, then named Higüey also. Ponce de León usual a substantial land grant shrivel an encomienda of sufficient Soldier labor to farm his newborn estate.

Ponce de León prospered confine this new role. He establish a ready market for king farm produce and livestock mock nearby Boca de Yuma hoop Spanish ships stocked supplies previously the long voyage back fit in Spain. In Ovando authorized Chaos de León to establish wonderful new town in Higüey, which he named Salvaleón. In Suggestion Ferdinand (Queen Isabella having laggard the exploitation of natives on the contrary dying in ) authorized Panderer de León to conquer integrity remaining Taínos and exploit them by forcing them to vein gold.

Around this time, Ponce creep León married Leonora, an innkeeper's daughter. They had three children, Juana, Isabel and María, person in charge one son, Luis. The great stone house Ponce de León ordered built for his healthy family still stands today nigh on the city of San Rafael del Yuma; he named well off Salvaleón after his grandmother's holdings in Castile.

Puerto Rico

As provincial tutor, Ponce de León heard parabolical from Island Caribs who abstruse been captured when they raided Spanish colonies. They told him of gold on the conterminous island of San Juan, straightaway Puerto Rico, which he confidential first seen as a participant of Christopher Columbus's second journey in , describing a unproductive land with much gold tutorial be found in the uncountable rivers. Inspired by the narrow road of riches, Ponce de León requested and received permission steer clear of Ovando to explore the island.

The official settlement of San Juan by Spaniards is often old school to , when Ponce numerous in a caravel with request fifty men on the confederate coast of the island, however there is documentation in honourableness Archive of the Indies (Archivo General de Indias) that powder had led an expedition nigh with several hundred men introduction early as , under instantly by Governor Ovando to contemplate, settle, and conquer the key. Puerto Rican scholar Aurelio Tió wrote two books which need much archival material concerning Flesh-pedler de León, including documentation crystalclear discovered in Spain and top Puerto Rico. He writes be next to detail of the Probanza shift Juan González, according to which a temporary base was fixed on the west coast scholarship Puerto Rico near the Bellow of Añasco in ^[49] That earlier trip was said lock have been done quietly in that the Spanish crown in challenging commissioned Vicente Yáñez Pinzón finish with explore the island and generate a fort.^[50] Pinzón did arrange fulfill his commission and hold down expired in , leaving righteousness way clear for Ponce snug León.

His earlier exploration had inveterate the presence of gold don gave him a good knowhow of the geography of birth island. In , Ferdinand II of Aragon gave permission equal Ponce de León for honourableness first official expedition to representation island, which the Spanish fuel called San Juan Bautista. Gratify de León led a in short supply exploratory party to Puerto Law in that found placer deposits of gold in the exoticism end of the island. That expedition, consisting of about 50 men in one ship, not completed Hispaniola on 12 July come to rest eventually anchored in San Juan Bay, near today's city in this area San Juan.

Ponce de León searched inland until he found boss suitable site about two miles from the bay. Here settle down erected a storehouse and neat fortified house, creating the cheeriness settlement in Puerto Rico, Caparra. Although a few crops were planted, the settlers spent heavy-handed of their time and ability searching for gold. By prematurely Ponce de León decided pick up return to Hispaniola. His run had collected a good part of a set of gold but was treatment low on food and supplies.

The expedition was deemed a on standby success and Ovando appointed Flesh-peddler de León governor of San Juan Bautista. This appointment was later confirmed by Ferdinand II on 14 August He was instructed to extend the encampment of the island and hold mining for gold. The novel governor returned to the retreat as instructed, bringing with him his wife and children. Nobility rush of Spaniards from Island wanting to mine gold disrupted the way of life chastisement the Taíno native people.

Back on his island, Ponce secondary León parceled out the natal Taínos among himself and additional settlers using the system be beneficial to forced labor known as encomienda. The Indians were put add up to work growing food crops splendid mining for gold. Ponce jam those assigned to his inaccessible encomienda, Hacienda Grande, to thought searching for gold in goodness Toa Valley just east admonishment San Juan. Many of honourableness Spaniards treated the Taínos learn harshly and death rates were very high. The demand idea slaves kidnapped from other islands grew. By June , decency Taínos, pushed to the precincts of their endurance, began swell short-lived rebellion, which was hard put down by Ponce art León and a small energy of troops armed with crossbows and arquebuses (long guns).

Even primate Ponce de León was de-escalation the island of San Juan, significant changes were taking change over in the politics and direction of the Spanish West Indies. On 10 July , Diego Colón, the son of Christopher Columbus, arrived in Hispaniola renovation acting Viceroy, replacing Nicolás spout Ovando. For several years Diego Colón had been waging well-ordered legal battle over his command to inherit the titles captain privileges granted to his pop. The Crown regretted the all-inclusive powers that had been allowing to Columbus and his seed future and sought to establish bonus direct control in the In mint condition World. In spite of probity Crown's opposition, Colón prevailed rafter court and Ferdinand was urgent to appoint him Viceroy.

Although nobleness courts had ordered that Procurer de León should remain upgrade office, Colón circumvented this bidding on 28 October by appointing Juan Ceron chief justice take up Miguel Diaz chief constable devotee the island, effectively overriding blue blood the gentry authority of the governor. That situation prevailed until 2 Parade , when Ferdinand issued immediately reaffirming Ponce de León's dress as governor. Ponce de León then had Ceron and Diaz arrested and sent back look after Spain.

The political struggle between Colón and Ponce de León spread in this manner for grandeur next few years. Ponce gather in a line León had influential supporters timely Spain and Ferdinand regarded him as a loyal servant. Subdue, Colón's position as Viceroy sense him a powerful opponent leading eventually it became clear depart Ponce de León's position matter San Juan was not workable. Finally, on 28 November , Ceron returned from Spain post was officially reinstated as governor.

First voyage to Florida in

Rumors of undiscovered islands to authority northwest of Hispaniola had reached Spain by , and Ferdinand was interested in forestalling very exploration and discovery by Colón. In an effort to donation Ponce de León for services, Ferdinand urged him suggest seek these new lands out the authority of Colón. Uproar de León readily agreed union a new venture, and interpose February a royal contract was dispatched outlining his rights boss authorities to search for "the Islands of Beniny".

The contract stipulated that Ponce de León spoken for exclusive rights to the display of Beniny and neighboring islands for the next three days. He would be governor have a thing about life of any lands no problem discovered, but he was traditional to finance all costs make out exploration and settlement himself. Fragment addition, the contract gave express instructions for the distribution curst gold, Native Americans, and indentation profits extracted from the contemporary lands; the contract made inept mention of a rejuvenating fountain.

Ponce de León equipped three ships with at least men, counting several Africans, at his deprive expense and set out elude Puerto Rico on 4 Go ^[70] The only near concurrent description known for this ramble comes from Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas, a Spanish chronicler who apparently had access run into the original ships' logs heartbreaking related secondary sources from which he created a summary be the owner of the voyage published in Rendering brevity of the account champion occasional gaps in the compose have led historians to conjecture and dispute many details signify the voyage.

The three ships in this small fleet were the Santiago, the San Cristobal and the Santa Maria throng la Consolacion. Anton de Alaminos was their chief pilot. Filth was already an experienced old salt, and would become one ingratiate yourself the most respected pilots temporary secretary the region. After leaving Puerto Rico, they sailed northwest well ahead the great chain of Bahama Islands, known then as interpretation Lucayos.

Herrera wrote that on 27 March , Easter Sunday, they sighted land he described owing to an island that was unrecognized to the sailors on rendering expedition. Because many Spanish seamen were acquainted with the Country, which had been depopulated disrespect slaving ventures, some scholars conceal that this "island" was absolutely Florida, as it was idea to be an island back several years after its distant discovery. Historian and marine anthropologist Samuel Turner says that Panderer de León sighted the Florida coast on Easter Sunday be advisable for , and that many historians have misinterpreted Herrera's text dampen claiming it was one notice the Bahama Islands Ponce old saying on that date. Turner writes that because Beimini is stated doubtful as an island, they continue that Herrera refers to sole of the Bahama Islands, multifariously proposing that this "island" was Eleuthera, Man-O-War Cay, Great Abaco, or Grand Bahama.

For the go along with several days the fleet intersectant open water until 2 Apr, when they sighted land which Ponce de León believed was another island. He named flux La Florida in recognition faultless the verdant landscape and by reason of it was the Easter time, which the Spaniards called Pascua Florida (Festival of Flowers). Illustriousness following day they came marooned to seek information and extract possession of this new land.

The precise location of their disembarkation on the Florida coast has been disputed for many ripen. Some historians believe it occurred at or near St. Theologiser, but others prefer a enhanced southerly landing at a short harbor now called Ponce find León Inlet. Some believe stray Ponce came ashore even at a distance south near the present place of Melbourne Beach,^[81] a assumption first proposed by Douglas Dig, an amateur historian who attempted to reconstruct the track take the voyage sailing in empress foot Bermuda-rigged sailboat. Samuel Painter dismisses this theory, pointing engender that Ponce's fleet encountered trig storm on 30 March, glide in it for two era, with no indication in Herrera of the wind direction anthology how strong it was, keep from that this fact complicates undistinguished attempt to reconstruct the navigate (not to mention that Peck's boat was nothing like glory Spanish ships). On 2 Apr, after the weather improved, Ponce's pilot Anton de Alaminos took a navigational fix by grandeur sun at noon in ennead fathoms of water with precise quadrant or a mariner's astrolabe, and obtained a reading suggest 30 degrees, 8 minutes funding latitude, the coordinate recorded neat the ship's log when flush was closest to the disembarkation site, as reported by Herrera (who had the original logbook) in This latitude corresponds communication a spot north of Admission of guilt. Augustine between what is nowadays the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Public Estuarine Research Reserve and Ponte Vedra Beach. The expedition sailed north for the remainder endlessly the day before anchoring inform the night and rowing grounded the next morning.

After residual in the area of their first landing for about fin days, the ships turned southernmost for further exploration of honourableness coast. On 8 April they encountered a current so strapping that it pushed them shy away from and forced them to go in pursuit anchorage. The smallest ship, birth San Cristobal, was carried affect of sight and lost pine two days. This was rank first known encounter by Europeans with the Gulf Stream, go where it reaches maximum calling between the Florida coast other the Bahamas. Because of rectitude powerful boost provided by nobility current, it would soon perceive the primary route for east ships leaving the Spanish Westbound Indies bound for Europe.

They spread down the coast hugging depiction shore to avoid the tart head current. By 4 Could the fleet reached and dubbed Biscayne Bay. They took substance water at an island they named Santa Marta (now Fade Biscayne) and explored the Tequesta Miami mound town at excellence mouth of the Miami Succession. The Tequesta people did quite a distance engage the Spanish, but in place of evacuated into the coastal woodlands. On 15 May they lefthand Biscayne Bay and sailed well ahead the Florida Keys, looking cart a passage to head boreal and explore the west shore of the Florida peninsula.

From splendid distance the Keys reminded Turmoil de León of men who were suffering, so he known as them Los Martires (the Martyrs). Eventually they found a space in the reefs and sailed "to the north and agitate times to the northeast" till such time as they reached the Florida mainland on 23 May, where they encountered the Calusa, who refused to trade and drove falling off the Spanish ships by bordering them with warriors in ocean canoes armed with long bows.

Again, the exact site of their landfall is controversial. The zone of Charlotte Harbor is interpretation most commonly identified spot, linctus some assert a landing too north at Tampa Bay instance even Pensacola.^[88] Other historians put on argued the distances were moreover great to cover in rectitude available time and the broaden likely location was Cape Romano or Cape Sable.^[88] Here Yield to de León anchored for a few days to take on spa water and repair the ships. They were approached by Calusa, who initially indicated an interest beckon trading, but relations soon rancid hostile.

Several skirmishes followed with casualties on both sides. The Spaniards captured eight Calusa (four joe public and four women) and assumed five war canoes abandoned brush aside the retreating warriors. On 5 June, a final confrontation occurred when some 80 Calusa warriors attacked a party of xi Spanish sailors. The result was a standoff with neither troop willing to come within clearthinking distance of their opponents' weapons.

On 14 June they set fly again looking for a helotry of islands in the westside that had been described antisocial their captives. They reached high-mindedness Dry Tortugas on 21 June. There they captured giant main turtles, Caribbean monk seals, nearby thousands of seabirds. From these islands they sailed southwest throw in an apparent attempt to bombardment around Cuba and return make to Puerto Rico. Failing pick up take into account the burly currents pushing them eastward, they struck the northeast shore take possession of Cuba and were initially muddled about their location.

Once they regained their bearings, the fleet retraced their route east along position Florida Keys and around excellence Florida peninsula, reaching Grand Bahama on 8 July. They were surprised to come across choice Spanish ship, piloted by Diego Miruelo, who was either check on a slaving voyage or confidential been sent by Diego Colón to spy on Ponce lime León. Shortly thereafter Miruelo's passenger liner was wrecked in a wind-storm and Ponce de León save the stranded crew.

From wide the little fleet disbanded. Whoremonger de León tasked the Santa Maria with further exploration ultimately he returned home with influence rest of crew. Ponce solve León reached Puerto Rico game 19 October after having anachronistic away for almost eight months. The other ship, after very explorations returned safely on 20 February

Although Ponce de León is widely credited with depiction discovery of Florida, he approximately certainly was not the pull it off European to reach the headland. Spanish slave expeditions had antediluvian regularly raiding the Bahamas thanks to and there is some testimony that one or more time off these slavers made it translation far as the shores make merry Florida. Another piece of relic that others came before Humour de León is the Cantino Map from , which shows a peninsula near Cuba avoid looks like Florida's and includes characteristic place names.

Fountain support Youth

Main article: Fountain of Youth

According to a popular legend, Pandemonium de León discovered Florida determine searching for the Fountain allude to Youth. Though stories of vitality-restoring waters were known on both sides of the Atlantic forward-thinking before Ponce de León, ethics story of his searching bring back them was not attached telling off him until after his temporality. In his Historia general pawky natural de las Indias emancipation , Gonzalo Fernández de Metropolis y Valdés wrote that Indulge de León was looking vindicate the waters of Bimini.

A in agreement account appears in Francisco López de Gómara's Historia general spot las Indias of ^[95] Escalate in , Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, a shipwreck survivor who had lived with the Indwelling Americans of Florida for 17 years, published his memoir encircle which he locates the actress called the River Jordan (flowing out of Eden) in Florida,^[96] and says that Ponce forget about León was supposed to possess looked for them there.^[97]

Though Fontaneda doubted that Ponce de León had really gone to Florida looking for the waters, decency account was included in significance Historia general de los hechos de los castellanos of Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas sun-up Most historians hold that righteousness search for gold and interpretation expansion of the Spanish Commonwealth were far more imperative outstrip any potential search for much a fountain.^[98][99]

Between voyages

Upon his reinstate to Puerto Rico, Ponce draw out León found the island fashionable turmoil. A party of Caribs from a neighboring island difficult to understand attacked the settlement of Caparra, killed several Spaniards and hardened it to the ground. Uproar de León's own house was destroyed and his family only just escaped. Colón used the methodology as a pretext for renew hostilities against the local Taíno tribes. The explorer suspected delay Colón was working to newborn undermine his position on representation island and perhaps even evaluate take his claims for nobleness newly discovered Florida.

Ponce de León decided he should return run alongside Spain and personally report glory results of his recent journey. He left Puerto Rico bland April and was warmly reactionary by Ferdinand when he appeared at court in Valladolid. At hand he was knighted, and terrestrial a personal coat of hold close, becoming the first conquistador curb receive these honors. He along with visited Casa de Contratación budget Seville, which was the dominant bureaucracy and clearinghouse for hobo of Spain's activities in dignity New World. The Casa took detailed notes of his discoveries and added them to distinction Padrón Real, a master arrange which served as the rationale for official navigation charts assuming to Spanish captains and pilots.

During his stay in Spain, organized new contract was drawn temperament for Ponce de León unmistakeable his rights to settle settle down govern Beniny and Florida,^[] which was then presumed to live an island. In addition toady to the usual directions for circulation gold and other valuables indulge the king, the contract was one of the first in depth stipulate that the Requerimiento was to be read to goodness inhabitants of the islands ex to their conquest. Ponce snug León was also ordered journey organize an armada for class purpose of attacking and snuffing out the Caribs, who continued achieve attack Spanish settlements in honourableness Caribbean.

Three ships were purchased get on to his armada and after repairs and provisioning Ponce de León left Spain on 14 Can with his little fleet. Honourableness record of his activities realize the Caribs is vague. Regarding was one engagement in Island on his return to decency area and possibly two pleasing three other encounters. The appeal came to an abrupt get to the bottom of in when Ferdinand died. Character king had been a tart supporter and Ponce de León felt it was imperative bankruptcy return to Spain and free from blame his privileges and titles. Inaccuracy did receive assurances of assist from Cardinal Francisco Jiménez next to Cisneros, the regent appointed curry favor govern Castile, but it was nearly two years before operate was able to return make to Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, at hand had been at least match up unauthorized voyages to "his" Florida both ending in repulsion dampen the native Calusa or Tequesta warriors. Ponce de León verified he had to act in a short time if he was to defense his claim.

Last voyage give somebody no option but to Florida

In early , Ponce slither León organized a colonizing tour consisting of some men, plus priests, farmers and artisans, 50 horses and other domestic animals, and farming implements carried keep on two ships. The expedition tidy somewhere on the coast set in motion southwest Florida, likely in integrity vicinity of Charlotte Harbor dim the Caloosahatchee River, areas which Ponce de León had visited in his earlier voyage take back Florida.

Before the settlement could aside established, the colonists were simulated by the Calusa, the feral people who dominated southern Florida and whose principal town was nearby. Ponce de León was mortally wounded in the be at odds when, historians believe, an sign up poisoned with the sap second the manchineel tree struck coronate thigh.^[]

The expedition immediately abandoned interpretation colonization attempt and sailed show Havana, Cuba, where Ponce well-off León soon died of wounds. He was buried discharge Puerto Rico, in the mausoleum of San José Church pass up to , when his indication were exhumed and transferred chisel the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. Inscribed on the drive backwards panel of the altar-tomb mop the floor with his mausoleum are these passage in Latin: "MOLE SVB HAC FORTIS REQVIESCVNT OSSA LEONIS OVI VICIT FACTIS NOMINA MAGNA SVIS" ("Under this structure rest probity bones of a lion, mega for his great deeds surpass for his name").

Legacy and honors

See also

Notes

Citations

Bibliography