The Last Conquistador: Juan De Onate and the Settling of the Far Southwest - Volume 2 in The Oklahoma Western Biographies

Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991. First Edition Stated . Trade Paperback. Very Good. 5 1/2" x 8 1/2. Cisneros, Jose - Front Cover Onate and Family Crest. 208 Pages Indexed. No defects noted. Interior text pages are faultless. In 1598 Don Juan de Onate led a formidable expedition of settlers, with wagons and livestock, on an epic march northward to the upper Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. There he established the first European settlement west of the Mississippi, launching a significant chapter in early American history. In this first full-length account of Onate's life, Marc Simmons has drawn upon much new material that has emerged from Spanish archives in the last decade, producing a fast-paced and readable account that will be valued by historians and general readers alike. In addition to painting a colorful picture of the multifaceted Onate and his exploits, Simmons notes the political, social, and cultural forces that contributed to his success and failures, and he places the entire story within the larger context of national and international development. Marc Simmons tells Onate's remarkable story in a swift-moving and authoritative narrative, rich in vivid detail. Marc Simmons is undoubtedly one of the greatest authorities on the Spanish history of the Southwest. In The Last Conquistador, one of the outstanding Spanish pioneers of the Southwest comes alive, with Simmons's powerful combination of historical accuracy and literary talent for recreating the character and its times. Contents in Ten Chapters: Introduction, Origins, Zacatecas, New Mexico, Moratorium, The Trail, San Juan, Crises, Nadir, and Retreat. Plus Series Editor's Preface and Sources.