Estevanico, also known as Esteban de Dorantes, was a Spanish explorer and slave who played a major role in the exploration of the American Southwest. He was born in the late 15th century in Azamor, Morocco, and was sold into slavery at a young age. He was purchased by a Spanish nobleman, Andrés Dorantes de Carranza, and taken to Spain.
In 1527, Estevanico was part of an expedition led by Pánfilo de Narváez to explore the Gulf Coast of what is now the United States. The expedition was a disaster, and Estevanico was one of only four survivors. He and the other survivors, including Cabeza de Vaca, spent the next eight years traveling through what is now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. During this time, Estevanico acted as a guide and interpreter for the group, as he was the only one who spoke the language of the Native Americans they encountered.
Estevanico and the other survivors eventually made their way to Mexico City, where they were welcomed by the viceroy. Estevanico was given his freedom and a pension for his service. He then joined an expedition led by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado to explore the American Southwest. Estevanico was the first European to explore the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. He also explored the area that is now Arizona and New Mexico, and was the first European to make contact with the Zuni and Hopi tribes.
Estevanico's explorations were instrumental in opening up the American Southwest to Spanish colonization. He was also the first non-Native American to explore the area, and his reports of the region helped to shape the Spanish view of the region. Estevanico's explorations also helped to spread Christianity to the Native Americans, as he was a devout Catholic.
Estevanico's explorations ended in 1536, when he was killed by the Apache. He was buried in Mexico City, and his remains were later moved to the Church of San Francisco in Mexico City. Estevanico's legacy lives on in the American Southwest, as his explorations helped to shape the region's history. He is remembered as a brave explorer who helped to open up the American Southwest to Spanish colonization.