After accompanying his uncle Diego Velázquez
in the conquest of Cuba and in founding Trinidad, Grijalva was sent by
Velázquez in 1518 to explore the Yucatan. This expedition was intended
to continue the Spanish exploration of the Mexican mainland begun by
Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba.
Grijalva sailed around Yucatan to the shores of the Bay of Campeche,
discovering the river that bears his name. Grijalva was the first
navigator to set foot on Mexican soil and the first to use the term New
Spain. He and his crew mapped rivers and discovered Cozumel Island.
Grijalva was also the first European to have contact with the Aztecs.
Velázquez was upset with his nephew upon his return because Grijalva had
taken a long time and, in his view, accomplished little. However,
Grijalva's diplomacy with the native peoples of the Yucatan had created
positive feelings towards the Spanish, which Cortes later capitalized on
in his campaign. Although Grijalva failed to find any great riches, he
had paved the way for the conquest of Mexico and Central America by the
He was later ambushed and killed by Indians in Central America.
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