Came Men on Horses

Guided by myths of golden cities and worldly rewards, policy-makers, conquistador leaders, and expeditionary aspirants alike came to the new world in the sixteenth century and left it a changed land. 'Came Men on Horses' follows two conquistadors -- Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and Don Juan de Onate -- on their journey across the south-west. Driven by their search for gold and silver, both Coronado and Onate committed atrocious acts of violence against the Native Americans, and fell out of favour with the Spanish monarchy. Examining the legacy of these two conquistadors Hoig attempts to balance their brutal acts and selfish motivations with the historical significance and personal sacrifice of their expeditions. Rich human details and superb story-telling make this a captivating narrative scholars and general readers alike will appreciate.