Alonso del Castillo Maldonado


Alonso del Castillo Maldonado was one of the first Spanish explorers in the Americas. He was one of the last four survivors of the Panfilo de Narvez expedition in Texas, along with Alvar Nuez Cabeza de Vaca, an Estevanico slave, and Andrs Dorantes de Carranza. Castillo Maldonado lived with a Native American tribe in Texas in 1527 and 1528. He most likely introduced the Christian faith to the tribe.

Alonso del Castillo Maldonado was born in Salamanca, Spain, the son of the doctor Castillo and Aldonza Maldonado. He was a close cousin of the Alcalde Mayor of Santo Domingo, Alonso Maldonado, and of Martn de Guzmn. Raised in the poor noble family of Hidalgos, Castillo travelled to the Americas in order to obtain wealth. He was the captain of the Panfilo de Narvaez expedition that began in 1527 in Florida.

Source: Wikipedia