Vicente de Zaldívar

Vicente de Zaldívar (c. 1573 – before 1650) was a Spanish soldier and explorer in New Mexico. He led the Spanish force that perpetrated the Acoma Massacre at Acoma Pueblo in 1599. He led or participated in several expeditions onto the Great Plains.

Early life Vicente de Zaldívar was born in Pánuco, Zacatecas, circa 1573. The Zaldivar and Oñate families of Zacatecas and New Mexico were prominent and intertwined. His father, Vicente de Zaldívar Sr., served in the Chichimeca War of 1550-1590 and other wars alongside his uncle (thus Vicente's great-uncle), Cristóbal de Oñate. His mother was Magdalena de Mendoza y Salazar.

Acoma

After his brother Juan de Zaldívar and other Spaniards were killed by Native Americans at Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico on December 4, 1598, Zaldívar was promoted to Maestre de Campo, second in command to Oñate.

Later life and death Zaldívar received the Order of Santiago in 1626. He died by 1650.