Beschreibung:

CORONADO, FRANCISCO VASQUEZ DE]. [CHARLES V, King of Spain ]. COUNCIL OF THE INDIES. Manuscript letter signed on behalf of KING CHARLES V by Francisco Garcia de Loyasa, President of the Council of the Indies, TO FRANCISCO VASQUEZ DE CORONADO, Madrid: 21 June 1540. 1 page, 4to, 278 x 208mm. (11 x 8 1/8 in.), headed at top "El Rey" (the King), later docket in upper left-hand corner "Carta de S.M. para Franco. Vasquez de Coronado" (letter of His Majesty for Francisco Vasquez de Coronado), paper with old folds, verso with address panel and contemporary endorsements (see below), several tiny holes due to acidic ink at folds (without loss to text), a small marginal stain, but otherwise in good condition, in Spanish. THE KING OF SPAIN ACKNOWLEDGES THE REPORT ON THE NIZA EXPEDITION AND AUTHORIZES CORONADO'S EPOCHAL EXPEDITION TO EXPLORE THE HEART OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT This letter is apparently the earliest surviving official authorization from a European regent to explore any part of North America which is now the United States. Virtually all documents relating to this early period of American history passed into institutions long ago. Addressed to Coronado, it acknowledges with approval Coronado's letter reporting the successful pacification of rebellious Indian tribes, then confirms and endorses the instructions of Viceroy Mendoza that Coronado should lead an expedition to conquer and settle the lands reported by Fray Marcos de Niza, bringing the land under the authority of the King, and exhorting him to treat the natives well. On the verso is the address to Coronado. This is apparently the actual letter (recipient's copy) sent to Coronado, not a secretarial copy. It is, then, the official authorization by the Emperor and the Council for the Coronado Expedition, and with it, the first exploration of the American Southwest by Europeans. The text reads: "Francisco Vazquez de Coronado Our Governor and captain general of the province of Galicia in New Spain, we saw your letter of the 15th of July of the past year [1840] in which you make a report to Us of the state of things in that province and of what you have done to bring peace to the natives of it when they have risen up. I thank you for all of that and...the care that you have had and continue to have for the pacification and settlement of it [i.e., the province] and the good treatment of the natives who live there, as singular service [to the Crown]; and I charge you to continue it... "Through letters from Don Antonio de Mendoza, Our Viceroy of New Spain, I have learned how in Our name you, as captain general, sent certain people to conquer and settle a land [region] that Fray Marcos de Niza discovered, of which [act] We are obliged because We hope that with your going [there] Our Lord will be very well served and Our Royal Crown increased and that with your good industry you will place under Our Royal yoke and sovreignty that land and that you will take to the natives of it knowledge of Our Holy Catholic Faith. And, also, I charge you that with all prudence and good order you work to achieve this while obeying the ordinances and provisions of the law that have been given by Us, and any order that the said our Viceroy [Mendoza] might give you. And be advised that during your absence we have ordered Our aforementioned viceroy to take care to look to the governing of your region [New Galicia] and to do in it what he deems best in the interest of God our Lord and of Us..." The document is signed at the bottom by Francisco Garcia de Loyasa, President of the Council of the Indies, below which appears the secretarial attestation of Juan de Samano. As additional certification, the verso is initialed by Diego Beltran, Licenciado Juan Suarez de Carvajal, Bishop of Lugo and Licenciado Guttierez Velazquez de Lugo, all members of the Council of the Indies. The historical facts surrounding the Coronado exploration of the Southwest have been thoroughly documented and admirably