Native American admixture in Texans

[buddy]

Yes that's true, Spain ruled much of Italy during those days so it's not surprising that a number of the conquistadores (not to mention many of the priests as well) were actually Italians. Friar Marco de Niza was an Italian priest in the service of Spain who accompanied the conquistadores on their expeditions to what is now Arizona-New Mexico. Sicily itself was ruled by Spain for centuries. In fact, I wonder how many Spaniards settled in Sicily during that time. Would anyone happen to know?

[Crimson Guard]

Droop with the links,as always well done!


I have an ancestor that served in the Spanish army and was a Conquistador ,according to my family tradition...who knows,could even be true?!

[vgambler33]

CRIMSON>
Something else they dont tell you is that alot of "Spanish" Conquistador's where in fact Sicilians aswel..[/quote]

Wrong, most of the Italians who came along with the Spanish conquistadores were Geneveses.

[vgambler33]

buddy said:

Yes that's true, Spain ruled much of Italy during those days so it's not surprising that a number of the conquistadores (not to mention many of the priests as well) were actually Italians. Friar Marco de Niza was an Italian priest in the service of Spain who accompanied the conquistadores on their expeditions to what is now Arizona-New Mexico.


Father Eusebio Francisco Kino: Missionary and Explorer

Kino was born in Tirol, Italy, and was educated in Germany. In 1665, Kino became a Jesuit priest. In 1681 he sailed as a missionary from Spain to New Spain (to what is now Mexico City, Mexico).


Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, S. J., (Aug. 10, 1645 - March 15, 1711) was a Jesuit priest, missionary, explorer, map-maker, mathematician, and astronomer. Kino was a missionary who founded many missions and explored areas in southwestern North America (Pimería Alta), including areas in what are now northern Sonora (Mexico), southern California (USA) and southern Arizona (USA).

He established his first Jesuit mission in March, 1687, in what is now Sonora, Mexico. In 1691, he began a series of more than 40 expeditions exploring southern Arizona, traveling from his base (Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in Sonora) along the Rio Grande, the Colorado River, and the Gila River. During these expeditions, he may have discovered the sources of these rivers. He was the first person to map this region. Kino also established that Lower California was not an island; it was a peninsula, the Baja Peninsula.


Father Kino helped the Pima Indians (of Sonora, Mexico) in farming methods, bringing them new types of seeds and farm animals. He also fought against the forced labor of Indians in northern Mexican silver mines.

Kino wrote many books, including: Favores Celestiales (published in 1708), Exposición Astronómica de el Cometa (an account of the Comet of 1680-1681, published in 1681), and a map of the Pimería Alta region (published in 1705). Father Kino died on March 15, 1711, in Magdalena, Mexico.

[vgambler33]

PADRE EUSEBIO KINO
Eusebio Francisco Kino was born 10 August 1645 in Segno, Italy. After suffering an illness in his late teen years that nearly caused his death, he joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and dedicated his life to divine service. He was a brilliant student in several German universities he attended, excelling in science, mathematics, theology, and languages.
In 1681 Kino arrived in Mexico as a missionary, where he first served on the Baja California peninsula. He was then assigned in 1687 to assist Padre José de Aguilar in missionary efforts among the "Pimas Altas" (Pima people of northern Sonora and southern Arizona) at Cucurpe, Sonora.

Kino soon set up his new home base at Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, at the Pima Village of Cosari, and soon he was exploring the lands of the Pimas further to the north. Over the next quarter century he labored diligently and effectively among the native people of Sonora and Arizona. The missions he established were to become the backbone of Spanish settlements in the region. They include such famous names as San Ignacio, Magdalena, San Xavier del Bac, Cocóspera, Caborca, Tumacácori, and Tucson.

Kino's achievements and honors are many. He was the first to prove that California was not an island. He made peaceful coexistence between the Spanish and the natives of the region possible. He opened many new trails into the region. He was a tireless advocate for his charges and the region in which they lived. In recognition of his importance the state of Arizona honored his memory in 1961 by placing his statue in the National Hall of Statuary, as representative of the state.

After a life of selfless devotion and dedicated service, Kino passed away on 15 March 1711 in the village of Magdalena [de Kino], Sonora, Mexico. His grave was rediscovered in 1966 and remains a pilgrimage center for thousands of adherents to the faith he advocated.

Finally, a note about Kino's explorations in the Pinal Mountain region:

In 1697 Padre Kino first explored the southern fringes of what was then called Apachería--the lands of the Apaches. Leaving Dolores, Sonora, he entered into the Huachuca Mountains and spent a few days with his friend Chief Coro of the Sobaípuri Pimas at Quíburi (near what was later to become Tombstone, Arizona). He then followed the San Pedro River north to its junction with the Gila--where modern-day Winkelman is located. Recognizing that the mountains (Pinals) to the north were full of hostile Apaches, he declined to explore further north, but rather followed the Gila to the "Casa Grande" (Big House) ruin, near modern-day Coolidge, Arizona. Casa Grande was originally a Hohokam/Salado structure, but by Kino's time had been abandoned. Kino then went on to Tudacson (today's Sacaton of the Gila River Pima people), and then returned to Dolores.

After the expedition Kino desired to build a permanent mission near the Gila-San Pedro junction, but died before he was to able to achieve that dream.

More can be learned about Kino from the following books:

Polzer, Charles W. Kino Guide II. Tucson: Arizona State Museum, 1982.

Smith, Fay Jackson, John L. Kessell, and Francis J. Fox. Father Kino in Arizona. Phoenix: Arizona Historical Foundation, 1966.



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[Toasty]

crimsonguard said:

Droop with the links,as always well done!


I have an ancestor that served in the Spanish army and was a Conquistador ,according to my family tradition...who knows,could even be true?!

Crimson, what is your ethnicity again?

[Pepe friend of obelix]

crimsonguard said:

<<From what I've understood, Basques featured prominently among the Spanish settlers in Latin America. Additionally, I've come across research that suggests that many of the settlers were also Jewish and Moorish exiles from the Inquisition. The Hispanos of New Mexico, who would have been Mexican citizens had it not been for the U.S. victory in the Mexican War, are thought to be largely descended from these people (mixed with Amerindians of course).>>

Something else they dont tell you is that alot of "Spanish" Conquistador's where in fact Sicilians aswel..

No conquistadors where Sicilian.Provide anything for us.

The only people employed by Iberia (Spain and Portugal) were the Genovese and Venetians,and they where only a hand full.

Sicily was under subjugation from the Aragonese kings (Catalonia) this is why to this day some sicilians have Iberians surnames and also have some Catalan dialects.

anyway the point is the Almogavares policed sicily,people of Iberia migrated (in small numbers) to Sicily not the other way around.

[anodyne]

In Henry Kamen's "Empire: How Spain Became a World Power" he stats that based on the information they have we can assume that 90% of Conquistadors were Castillian- Andalucians (Extramadurans are inculded in this group -- apparently they played a big role). If any Italians were involved i'd bet they'd be Genovese as one poster already mentioned. They could be found in Castile's port cities in significant numbers compared to other Italian groups. But I doubt very many of those early conquistadors were of Italian extraction. Although, I recall some mention of Italians with De Soto but I can't remember where I read that.