The conquistador Hernando de Soto, dissatisfied with…
1537 CE
The conquistador Hernando de Soto, dissatisfied with Pizarro's leadership and coveting a governorship of his own, had returned to Spain in 1536 with an enormous share of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
Although de Soto’s shares accumulated during the sack of Peru total less than half of Pizarro's, he is one of the wealthiest of the returning conquistadors.
His share is awarded to him by the King of Spain, and he receives seven hundred and twenty-four marks of gold, seventeen thousand seven hundred and forty pesos.
He is admitted into the prestigious Order of Santiago, and marries Isabel de Bobadilla, daughter of his late former mentor Pedrarias Dávila and a relative of a confidante of Queen Isabella.
Soon growing restless, de Soto petitions King Charles for the government of Guatemala with "permission to make discovery in the South Sea," but is granted the governorship of Cuba instead.
De Soto is expected to colonize the North American continent for Spain within four years, for which his family will be given a sizable piece of land.