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On July 7, 1540, they arrived at Háwikuh, south of present-day Gallup, [[New Mexico]], and first of the fabled Cities of Cibola. But a major disappointment awaited the Spaniards. Instead of a golden city, they saw only a rock-masonry [[pueblo]] occupied by Indians who were prepared to defend their village. After several unsuccessful attempts at a peaceful negotiation, the Spaniards attacked and forced the Indians to abandon the village. The pueblo, well-stocked with much needed food, became Coronado's headquarters through November. Fray Marcos, whose tales had raised so many hopes of wealth and fortune, was ordered back to Mexico City amidst a rising tide of anger and bitter resentment.

On July 7, 1540, they arrived at Háwikuh, south of present-day Gallup, [[New Mexico]], and first of the fabled Cities of Cibola. But a major disappointment awaited the Spaniards. Instead of a golden city, they saw only a rock-masonry [[pueblo]] occupied by Indians who were prepared to defend their village. After several unsuccessful attempts at a peaceful negotiation, the Spaniards attacked and forced the Indians to abandon the village. The pueblo, well-stocked with much needed food, became Coronado's headquarters through November. Fray Marcos, whose tales had raised so many hopes of wealth and fortune, was ordered back to Mexico City amidst a rising tide of anger and bitter resentment.

While at Háwikuh, Coronado sent his captains out to explore the surrounding region. Don Pedro de Tovar and his troops reached the Hopi Indian villages in northeastern [[Arizona]] while Garcia López de Cárdenas and his men traveled as far west as the Grand Canyon of the [Colorado]]. A third captain, Hernando de Alvarado marched eastward past Acoma and Tiguex pueblos to Cicuye (Pecos) pueblo, near modern-day [[Santa Fe]]. It was here that they met "The Turk," a Plains Indian who astounded them with his tales of an unbelievably rich land further to the east, called Quivira. The Turk's stories renewed hopes among the Spaniards of finding the great wealth that had thus far eluded them, however, with winter approaching, further exploration had to wait until spring. The army wintered at Tiguex with the seemingly friendly inhabitants. However, the Indians' mood soon turned to open hostility when violations of hospitality and friendship were committed by the Spaniards. A series of battles followed, resulting in the Spaniards killing the occupants of one pueblo and forcing the abandonment of several others.

While at Háwikuh, Coronado sent his captains out to explore the surrounding region. Don Pedro de Tovar and his troops reached the Hopi Indian villages in northeastern [[Arizona]] while Garcia López de Cárdenas and his men traveled as far west as the Grand Canyon of the [[Colorado]]. A third captain, Hernando de Alvarado marched eastward past Acoma and Tiguex pueblos to Cicuye (Pecos) pueblo, near modern-day [[Santa Fe]]. It was here that they met "The Turk," a Plains Indian who astounded them with his tales of an unbelievably rich land further to the east, called Quivira. The Turk's stories renewed hopes among the Spaniards of finding the great wealth that had thus far eluded them, however, with winter approaching, further exploration had to wait until spring. The army wintered at Tiguex with the seemingly friendly inhabitants. However, the Indians' mood soon turned to open hostility when violations of hospitality and friendship were committed by the Spaniards. A series of battles followed, resulting in the Spaniards killing the occupants of one pueblo and forcing the abandonment of several others.

On April 23, 1541, the entire army set out for Quivira, guided by The Turk. After 40 long days of travel, Coronado sent most of his men back to Tiguex and continued marching northeast with a small detachment. Upon arriving at Quivira, near modern-day Salina, Kansas, they were disillusioned once again. The villages before them were nothing more than primitive grass huts. When pressed for an explanation, The Turk finally confessed that the story of Quivira was nothing more than a plot conceived by the Pueblo Indians to lure the Spaniards out onto the plains in hopes that they would become lost and eventually die of starvation. In furious anger at having been so gullible and so easily led astray, the soldiers executed The Turk. Coronado and his men soon after began their long grueling return march back home mired in bitter disappointment at having failed their mission

On April 23, 1541, the entire army set out for Quivira, guided by The Turk. After 40 long days of travel, Coronado sent most of his men back to Tiguex and continued marching northeast with a small detachment. Upon arriving at Quivira, near modern-day Salina, Kansas, they were disillusioned once again. The villages before them were nothing more than primitive grass huts. When pressed for an explanation, The Turk finally confessed that the story of Quivira was nothing more than a plot conceived by the Pueblo Indians to lure the Spaniards out onto the plains in hopes that they would become lost and eventually die of starvation. In furious anger at having been so gullible and so easily led astray, the soldiers executed The Turk. Coronado and his men soon after began their long grueling return march back home mired in bitter disappointment at having failed their mission