Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

Cabeza de Vaca, Alvar Núñez (1490?–1557?), Spanish explorer. Shipwrecked off the coast of Texas and imprisoned by the Native Americans in 1528, he escaped and made his way to Mexico City (1530–36). His account of southwestern United States, including descriptions of “Seven Cities of Cíbola,” supposedly laden with riches, stirred Spanish interest in the area. He was made governor of Paraguay (1542–44), but after a rebellion against him, he was recalled to Spain.