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Today is April 2, 1513

Hi i'm Elizabeth Draper in Ms.Rust's class in the best school ever Goergetown Elementary school!!:}We'll i'm doing this project in 4th grade in mrs. Lane's class, What I have to do is go to websites and research about explore which mine is Juan Ponce De Leon. my partner is Jillian Yi. if you need info it's all here. This is juan ponce de leon's rout back to americ He went on the first voyage with Christopher Columbus in 1692.They all were looking for a quicker route to India, Asia Juan Ponce de León (1474 – July 1521)[1] was a Spanish explorer. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish Crown. He is also notable for his voyage to Florida, the first known European excursion there, as well as for being associated with the legend of the Fountain of Youth, which was said to be in Florida.

juan ponce de leon was born? Born 1474 Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain Died 1521 Havana, Cuba Nationality Spanish Spouse Leonor Ponce de León Profession Explorer Religion Roman Catholic

Juan Ponce de León was born in the village of Santervás de Campos in the northern part of what is now the Spanish province of Valladolid. Although early historians placed his birth in 1460, more recent evidence shows he was likely born in 1474. His family genealogy is extremely confusing and poorly documented. There is no consensus on who his parents were but it seems that he was a member of a distinguished and influential noble family. His relatives included Rodrigo Ponce de León, the Marquess of Cádiz and a celebrated figure in the Moorish wars.[2]

Arrival in the New World

Ponce de León was also related to another notable family, Núñez de Guzmán, and as a young man he served as squire to Pedro Núñez de Guzmán, Knight Commander of the Order of Calatrava. A contemporary chronicler, Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes, states that Ponce de León became an experienced soldier fighting in the Spanish campaigns that defeated the Moors in Granada and <span style="background-color: transparent !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif !important; font-size: 13px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-variant: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto !important; line-height: 19.5px !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;"> the re-conquest of Spain in 1492.[3] Arrival in the New World

[[|edit]] First voyage and discovery of Florida
Rumors of undiscovered islands to the northwest of [|Hispaniola] had reached Spain by 1511 and [|Ferdinand] was interested in forestalling further exploration and discovery by Colón. In an effort to reward Ponce de León for his services, Ferdinand urged him to seek these new lands outside the authority of Colón. Ponce de León readily agreed to a new venture and in February 1512 a royal contract was dispatched outlining his rights and authorities to search for "the Islands of Benimy".[|[17]] The contract stipulated that Ponce de León held exclusive rights to the discovery of Benimy and neighboring islands for the next three years. He would be governor for life of any lands he discovered but he was expected to finance for himself all costs of exploration and settlement. In addition, the contract gave specific instructions for the distribution of gold, Native Americans, and other profits extracted from the new lands. Notably, there was no mention of a rejuvenating fountain.[|[18]][|[19]] Ponce de León equipped three ships at his own expense and set out from Puerto Rico on March 4, 1513. The only contemporary description known for this expedition comes from [|Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas], a Spanish historian who apparently had access to the original ships' logs or related secondary sources from which he created a summary of the voyage published in 1601.[|[20]][|[21]] The brevity of the account and occasional gaps in the record have led historians to speculate and dispute many details of the voyage. The three vessels in this small fleet were the //Santiago//, the //San Cristobal// and the //Santa Maria de la Consolacion//. Anton de Alaminos was their chief pilot. He was already an experienced sailor and would become one of the most respected pilots in the region. After leaving Puerto Rico, they sailed northwest along the great chain of Bahama Islands, known then as the Lucayos. By March 27, Easter Sunday, they reached the northern end of [|the Bahamas] sighting an unfamiliar island (probably [|Great Abaco]).[|[22]] For the next several days the fleet crossed open water until April 2, 1513, when they sighted land which Ponce de León believed was another island. He named it //La Florida// in recognition of the verdant landscape and because it was the [|Easter] season, which the Spaniards called //[|Pascua Florida]// (Festival of Flowers). The following day they came ashore to seek information and take possession of this new land.[|[23]] The precise location of their landing on the Florida coast has been disputed for many years. Some historians believe it occurred at [|Saint Augustine];[|[24]] others prefer a more southern landing at a small harbor now called [|Ponce de León Inlet];[|[25]] and some argue that Ponce came ashore even further south near the present location of [|Melbourne Beach].[|[26]] After remaining in the vicinity of their first landing for about five days, the ships turned south for further exploration of the coast. On April 8 they encountered a current so strong that it pushed them backwards and forced them to seek anchorage. The smallest ship, the //San Cristobal//, was carried out of sight and lost for two days. This was the first encounter with the [|Gulf Stream] where it reaches maximum force between the Florida coast and the Bahamas. Because of the powerful boost provided by the current, it would soon become the primary route for eastbound ships leaving the Spanish Indies bound for Europe.[|[27]] They continued down the coast hugging the shore to avoid the strong head current. By early May the fleet reached [|Biscayne Bay] and took on water at an island they named Santa Marta (now [|Key Biscayne]). On May 15 they were coasting along the [|Florida Keys], looking for a passage to head north and explore the west coast of the Florida peninsula. From a distance the Keys reminded Ponce de León of men who were suffering, so he named them //Los Martires// (the Martyrs).[|[28]] Eventually they found a gap in the reefs and sailed "to the north and other times to the northeast" until they reached the Florida mainland on May 23.[|[29]] Again, the exact site of their landfall is controversial. The vicinity of [|Charlotte Harbor] is the most commonly identified spot while some assert a landing further north at [|Tampa Bay] or even [|Pensacola]. Other historians have argued the distances were too great to cover in the available time and the more likely location was [|Cape Romano] or [|Cape Sable]. Here Ponce de León anchored for several days to take on water and repair the ships. They were approached by [|Native Americans] who were initially interested in trading but relations soon turned hostile. Several skirmishes followed with casualties on both sides and the Spaniards took eight Indians captive.[|[30]] On June 14 they set sail again looking for a chain of islands in the west that had been described by their captives. They reached the [|Dry Tortugas] on June 21. There they captured giant [|sea turtles], [|Caribbean Monk Seals], and thousands of [|seabirds]. From these islands they sailed southwest in an apparent attempt to circle around Cuba and return home to Puerto Rico. Failing to take into account the powerful currents pushing them eastward, they struck the northeast shore of Cuba and were initially confused about their location.[|[31]] Once they regained their bearings, the fleet retraced their route east along the Florida Keys and around the Florida peninsula, reaching [|Grand Bahama] on July 8. They were surprised to come across another Spanish ship, piloted by [|Diego Miruelo], who was either on a slaving voyage or had been sent by [|Diego Colón] to spy on Ponce de León. Shortly thereafter Miruelo's ship was wrecked in a storm and Ponce de León rescued the stranded crew. From here the little fleet disbanded. Ponce de León tasked the //Santa Maria// with further exploration while he returned home with the rest of crew. Ponce de León reached Puerto Rico on October 19 after having been away for almost eight months. The other ship, after further explorations returned safely on February 20, 1514.[|[32]] Although Ponce de León is widely credited with the discovery of Florida, he may not have been the first European to reach the peninsula. Spanish slave expeditions had been regularly raiding the Bahamas since 1494 and there is some evidence that one or more of these slavers made it as far as the shores of Florida.[|[33]] 

[[|edit]] The Fountain of Youth
**[|Spanish colonization of the Americas]** || According to a popular legend, Ponce de León discovered Florida while searching for the [|Fountain of Youth]. Though stories of vitality-restoring waters were known on both sides of the Atlantic long before Ponce de León, the story of his searching for them was not attached to him until after his death. In his //Historia General y Natural de las Indias// of 1535, [|Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo] wrote that Ponce de León was looking for the waters of [|Bimini] to cure his aging.[|[34]] A similar account appears in [|Francisco López de Gómara]'s //Historia General de las Indias// of 1551.[|[35]] Then in 1575, [|Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda], a shipwreck survivor who had lived with the Native Americans of Florida for 17 years, published his memoir in which he locates the waters in Florida, and says that Ponce de León was supposed to have looked for them there.[|[36]] Though Fontaneda doubted that de León had really gone to Florida looking for the waters, the account was included in the //Historia general de los hechos de los Castellanos// of [|Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas] of 1615. Some historians have argued that the search for [|gold] and the expansion of the [|Spanish Empire] was far more imperative than the "search" for the fountain or slaves.[|[37]][|[38]] 
 * Part of the series on
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 * **History of the conquest** ||
 * **[|Inter caetera]** ||
 * **[|Alaska]** ||
 * **[|California]** ||
 * **[|Chile]** ||
 * **[|Florida]** ||
 * **[|Guatemala]** ||
 * **[|Aztec Empire]** ||
 * **[|Inca Empire]** ||
 * **[|Conquest of the Yucatán]** ||
 * **[|Conquistadores]** ||
 * **[|Diego de Almagro]** ||
 * **[|Vasco Núñez de Balboa]** ||
 * **[|Sebastián de Belalcázar]** ||
 * **[|Francisco Vásquez de Coronado]** ||
 * **[|Hernán Cortés]** ||
 * Juan Ponce de León ||
 * **[|Francisco de Montejo]** ||
 * **[|Pánfilo de Narváez]** ||
 * **[|Juan de Oñate]** ||
 * **[|Francisco de Orellana]** ||
 * **[|Francisco Pizarro]** ||
 * **[|Hernando de Soto]** ||
 * **[|Pedro de Valdivia]** ||
 * **[|Martín de Ursúa]** ||
 * **[|Juan de Villegas]** ||
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[[|edit]] Between voyages
Upon his return to Puerto Rico, Ponce de León found the island in turmoil. A party of [|Caribs] from a neighboring island had attacked the settlement of [|Caparra], killed several Spaniards and burned it to the ground. Ponce de León's own home was destroyed and his family narrowly escaped. [|Colón] used the attack as a pretext for renewing hostilities against the local [|Taíno] tribes. The explorer suspected that Colón was working to further undermine his position on the island and perhaps even to take his claims for the newly discovered Florida.[|[39]] Ponce de León decided he should return to Spain and personally report the results of his recent expedition. He left Puerto Rico in April 1514 and was warmly received by Ferdinand when he arrived at court in [|Valladolid]. There he was knighted and given a personal [|coat of arms] - the first conquistador to receive these honors. He also visited [|Casa de Contratación] in [|Seville], which was the central bureaucracy and clearinghouse for all of Spain's activities in the New World. The Casa took detailed notes of his discoveries and added them to the [|Padrón Real], a master map which served as the basis for official navigation charts provided to Spanish captains and pilots.[|[40]] During his stay in Spain, a new contract[|[41]] was drawn up for Ponce de León confirming his rights to settle and govern the "islands" of Florida and [|Bimini]. In addition to the usual directions for sharing gold and other valuables with the king, the contract was one of the first to stipulate that the [|Requerimiento] was to be read to the inhabitants of the islands prior to their conquest. Ponce de León was also ordered to organize an armada for the purpose of attacking and subduing the Caribs, who continued to attack Spanish settlements in the Caribbean.[|[42]] Three ships were purchased for his armada and after repairs and provisioning Ponce de León left Spain on May 14, 1515 with his little fleet. The record of his activities against the Caribs is vague. There was one engagement in Guadeloupe on his return to Spain and possibly two or three other encounters.[|[43]] 

[[|edit]] Last voyage to Florida
In 1521 Ponce de León organized a colonizing expedition on two ships. It consisted of some 200 men, including priests, farmers and artisans, 50 horses and other domestic animals, and farming implements. The expedition landed on the southwest coast of Florida, in the vicinity of [|Caloosahatchee River] or [|Charlotte Harbor]. The colonists were soon attacked by [|Calusa] braves and Ponce de León was injured when an arrow [|poisoned] with the [|sap] of the [|Manchineel tree] struck his shoulder.[|[44]] After this attack, he and the colonists sailed to [|Havana], [|Cuba], where he soon died of the wound. His tomb is in the [|Cathedral of San Juan Bautista] in [|Old San Juan, Puerto Rico].[|[45]]

**in [|Old San Juan, Puerto Rico]** || 
 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/44/Juan_Ponce_de_Leon_statue.jpg/150px-Juan_Ponce_de_Leon_statue.jpg width="150" height="208" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juan_Ponce_de_Leon_statue.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Poncedeleonburial.jpg/140px-Poncedeleonburial.jpg width="140" height="210" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Poncedeleonburial.jpg"]] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Articulos_cmj_006.jpg/350px-Articulos_cmj_006.jpg width="350" height="207" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Articulos_cmj_006.jpg"]] ||
 * **Juan Ponce de León, Statue, Cathedral & Burial Site**
 * **The statue was made in [|New York] in 1882 using the bronze from English cannons seized after the English attacked San Juan in 1792**. ||

[[|edit]] See also
 In 1502 the newly appointed governor, [|Nicolás de Ovando], arrived in [|Hispaniola]. His directive from the Spanish Crown was to bring order to a colony in disarray. One of Ovando’s priorities was to <span style="background-color: transparent !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; border: none !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif !important; font-size: 13px !important; font-style: normal !important; font-variant: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto !important; line-height: 19.5px !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;"> the subjugation of the native [|Taínos]. In 1504, when a small Spanish garrison was overrun by the Taínos in [|Higüey] on the eastern side of the island, Ponce de León was assigned a major role in crushing this rebellion. Ovando must have been impressed with Ponce de León--he appointed him frontier governor of the new province, Higüey. In addition, Ovando awarded him a substantial land grant along with sufficient Indian labor to farm his new estate.[|[7]] Ponce de León prospered in this new role. He found a ready market for his farm produce and livestock at nearby [|Boca de Yuma] where Spanish ships made a final call for supplies before the long voyage back to Spain. In 1505 he was authorized by Ovando to establish a new town in Higüey, which he named [|Salvaleón]. Around this same time, Ponce de León married Leonora, the daughter of an innkeeper. They had three daughters, Juana, Isabel and Maria; and one son, Luis. He built a large stone house for his growing family--a house that still stands today near the city of Salvaleón de Higüey.[|[8]] 
 * [|Juan Ponce de León II]
 * [|Agueybana]
 * [|Hayuya]
 * [|Jumacao]
 * [|Discoverer of the Americas]
 * [|Tequesta]
 * [|Florida]