Francisco Vázquez de Coronado and the Tiguex War In 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado arrived in the Tiguex Province—modern-day Bernalillo, New Mexico—at the head of an expeditionary force. While the group included approximately 350 European soldiers, it was primarily composed of 1,300 to 2,000 indigenous allies from central and western Mexico, including Aztec (Mexica) and Tlaxcalan warriors. This encounter led to the Tiguex War (1540–1541), the first named conflict between Europeans and Native Americans in the United States, as the Tiwa people resisted the Spanish demands for food, clothing, and shelter during a brutal winter.
The Sage is TIWA | Four Corners & Here? End of My Street?