Abstract

In 1521, two carabels that were preparing to rescue Indians in the Lucayan Islands, traveled beyond northern Florida and discovered lands between 32 and 33 degrees north. These ships sponsored by the judges of the Island of San Domingo (Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón and Juan Ortiz de Matienzo) decided to name that place as Tierra de San Juan Bautista. After a series of disputes between the judges of Santo Domingo to elucidate who belonged to the discovery, Vázquez de Ayllón was ahead of his competitors, and moved to the Iberian Peninsula in 1523, to capitulate with King Carlos V. The signing of the capitulation took place in the town of Valladolid on 12 June 1523, recognizing Vázquez de Ayllón the merit of having discovered that site, and was given a period of one year to arrange the trip to that place. In 1524 there was a first reconnaissance voyage to the Lands of San Juan Bautista, and once they returned to Santo Domingo, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón decided to organize a second voyage, with the mission of populating and inhabiting this enclave. In July 1526, Vázquez de Ayllón left Puerto de la Plata with six ships and more than five hundred people, and on this voyage, the first city of North America was founded: San Miguel de Guadalupe.

Keywords:
American history; north American history; cartography; historical research