Editing Santa Fe de Nuevo México (section)

====16th century====
In 1536, the legendary explorers [[Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca]] and [[Estevanico]], and two other men, survived an ill-fated expedition known as the [[Narváez expedition]].  For 8 years they wandered across what is today northern Mexico and the Southwest United States. In 1539, Fray [[Marcos de Niza]] led an expedition north from [[Mexico City]]. He caught glimpse of a Zuni town in the distance, probably [[Hawikuh Ruins|Hawikuh]], and returned to Mexico City claiming it might have been one of the fabled [[Seven Cities of Gold]]. The disappearance of Estevanico in the region prompted future expeditions to be more heavily armed, and far more cautious. 1540-1542 with Marcos de Niza's tales in mind, [[Francisco Vázquez de Coronado]] began the most ambitious expedition. Fears caused by rumors surrounding Estevanico's disappearance eventually led to tensions underlying the [[Tiguex War]]. In two years, the Coronado expedition journeyed from present-day Mexico throughout the Southwest United States and as far east as Kansas.

In 1581-1582, Fray Augustin Rodriguez, two other friars, and a few soldiers and servants walked across much of present-day New Mexico seeking converts.

In 1590-1591, an order had arrived from Spain requiring all expeditions to be authorized by the crown. However, Lieutenant Governor Gaspar Castano de Sosa of Nuevo Leon launched an expedition on his own authority. He planned to start a colony in New Mexico and persuade the viceroy to accept it after the fact. Pursued through New Mexico, he was arrested and taken back to Mexico City.

On July 12, 1598, [[Don Juan de Oñate Salazar]] established the [[New Spain]] colony of ''Santa Fe de Nuevo Méjico'' at the new village of [[San Juan de los Caballeros]] adjacent to the [[Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico|Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo]] at the confluence of the [[Rio Grande|Río Bravo (Rio Grande)]] and the [[Rio Chama|Río Chama]]. The expedition had been authorized by [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] to survey the region. Though the Spanish believed that cities of gold such as Tenochtitlan of the [[Aztecs]], whom they had previously conquered, lay to the north in the unexplored territory, the major goal was to spread Catholicism{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}. Other expeditions had taken place before Oñate's 1598 expedition. He was unable to find any riches, however. As governor, he mingled with the [[Puebloans|Pueblo]] people and was responsible for the establishment of Spanish rule in the area. Oñate served as the first governor of the Nuevo México Province from 1598 to 1610. He hoped to make it a separate [[viceroy]]alty from New Spain in an original agreement made in 1595, but the terms failed when the Viceroy changed hands in 1596. After a two-year delay and lengthy vetting by the new viceroy, Oñate was finally allowed to cross the Rio Grande River into modern-day Texas and New Mexico.