Tristán de Luna y Arellano

Who was Tristán de Luna y Arellano?

Tristán de Luna y Arellano was a Spanish Conquistador of the 16th century. Born in Borobia, Spain, he came to New Spain, and was sent on an expedition to conquer Florida in 1559. In August of that year, he established an ephemeral colony at modern-day Pensacola, one of the earliest European settlements within the present-day United States.

During his years in Mexico, de Luna had served with Francisco Vásquez de Coronado on his expedition to the Seven Cities of Cíbola and crushed an Indian rebellion in Oaxaca. De Luna was chosen by Luis de Velasco, Viceroy of New Spain, to establish a settlement on the Gulf Coast of what is now the United States, and clear an overland trade route to Santa Elena, where another outpost would be founded. A site named "Filipina Bay" had been recommended from the September 1558 voyage of Guido de las Bazares. De Luna was given thirteen ships and more than 1,500 soldiers and settlers, under six captains of cavalry and six of infantry. De Luna, however, proved to be an ineffective leader, and the expedition was plagued by multiple disasters, before he rescued the survivors and took them to safety.