Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada was a Spanish conquistador who is best known for his role in the conquest of the Muisca people in the New Kingdom of Granada, now known as Colombia. He was born in 1470 in the city of Jerez de los Caballeros in the province of Badajoz, Spain. He was the son of a wealthy family and was educated in the humanities and law.
At the age of twenty-five, Jiménez de Quesada joined an expedition led by his brother, Hernán Pérez de Quesada, to explore the New World. The expedition arrived in the Caribbean in 1536 and eventually made its way to the New Kingdom of Granada. Jiménez de Quesada was appointed the leader of the expedition and was given the task of conquering the Muisca people.
Jiménez de Quesada and his men arrived in the New Kingdom of Granada in 1537. The Muisca people were a powerful and advanced civilization that had been living in the region for centuries. The Muisca people had a complex political and social structure and were known for their gold and emeralds.
Jiménez de Quesada and his men were met with fierce resistance from the Muisca people. Despite this, Jiménez de Quesada was able to gain the trust of the Muisca people and eventually convinced them to accept Spanish rule. He also negotiated a peace treaty with the Muisca people, which allowed the Spanish to establish a settlement in the region.
Jiménez de Quesada and his men then set out to explore the region and eventually reached the city of Bogotá. Jiménez de Quesada declared the city the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada and named it Santa Fe de Bogotá. He also established a government and a system of laws in the city.
Jiménez de Quesada and his men then set out to explore the rest of the region. They encountered many different indigenous tribes and were able to establish friendly relations with them. Jiménez de Quesada also established a system of trade with the indigenous tribes, which allowed the Spanish to gain access to valuable resources such as gold and emeralds.
Jiménez de Quesada and his men eventually returned to Spain in 1539. He was hailed as a hero and was given a large estate in the province of Badajoz. He was also given the title of Marquis of the New Kingdom of Granada.
Jiménez de Quesada died in 1579 at the age of eighty-nine. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of Colombia. He is credited with the conquest of the Muisca people and the establishment of the New Kingdom of Granada. His legacy lives on in the cities and towns of Colombia, which still bear his name.