page_title: Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
hierarchical_section_title: Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Trajet des conquistadors en Colombie &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Alonso de Ojeda&#160;(1499-1501) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Vasco Núñez de Balboa&#160;(1513) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Pedro Arias Dávila&#160;(1513-1519) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Pascual de Andagoya, Diego de Almagro et Francisco Pizarro&#160;(1515-1529) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Pedro de Heredia et ses lieutenants&#160;(1532-1538) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Sebastián de Belalcázar&#160;(1533-1539) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Lieutenants de Sebastián de Belalcázar&#160;(1533-1539) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada&#160;(1536-1538) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Nicolás de Federmán&#160;(1537-1539)
context_page_description: Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada y Rivera, also spelled as De Quezada and Ximénez, was a Spanish explorer and conquistador in northern South America, territories currently known as Colombia. He explored the northern part of South America. As a well-educated lawyer he was one of the intellectuals of the Spanish conquest. He was an effective organizer and leader, designed the first legislation for the government of the area, and was its historian. After 1569 he undertook explorations toward the east, searching for the elusive El Dorado, but returned to New Granada in 1573. He has been suggested as a possible model for Cervantes' Don Quixote.
context_section_description: Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada y Rivera, also spelled as De Quezada and Ximénez, (Spanish: [gonˈθalo xiˈmeneθ ðe keˈsaða];1496 – other sources state 1506 or 1509 –  Suesca, 16 February 1579) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador in northern South America, territories currently known as Colombia. He explored the northern part of South America. As a well-educated lawyer he was one of the intellectuals of the Spanish conquest. He was an effective organizer and leader, designed  the first legislation for the government of the area, and was its historian. After 1569 he undertook explorations toward the east, searching for the elusive El Dorado, but returned to New Granada in 1573. He has been suggested as a possible model for Cervantes' Don Quixote.
caption: Routes of Spanish conquest
  Green is De Quesada's approximate trajectory
  Note: route around the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta incorrectly drawn
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