The below was written before the actual location was discovered. 

Chichilticale was one of the key locations during Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s 1540–1542 expedition into the southwestern United States, particularly in what is now Arizona. It was one of the three towns Coronado’s expedition encountered during their quest for the fabled "Seven Cities of Gold" (Cíbola). Chichilticale is notable for being one of the first places where the Spanish explorers encountered Native American settlements in the region.

Location and Role in the Expedition

Chichilticale is described as a fortified settlement, or possibly a collection of settlements, that was inhabited by the Puebloan peoples, a group of Native American cultures living in the American Southwest. Coronado's expedition reached Chichilticale after crossing the desert, following the initial discovery of the Zuni pueblos in what is now New Mexico. The Spanish expedition, having already encountered the Zuni, expected to find more similar cities of great wealth.

Chichilticale itself is believed to have been located somewhere in modern-day Arizona, though the exact site is uncertain. Some historians believe that it was in the region of the San Pedro River valley, while others argue it could have been further south or west, closer to the Mexican border, or near the Sierra Ancha mountains.

The Encounter with Chichilticale

When Coronado’s expedition reached Chichilticale in the spring of 1540, they encountered a large, well-organized pueblo. However, like the Zuni pueblos, the settlement was not as wealthy as the Spanish had hoped. Instead of finding gold or treasures, Coronado’s men found a community of Puebloan peoples who had well-constructed homes made of adobe and stone. The settlement was defended with palisades, indicating a degree of military preparedness, likely due to previous conflicts with other groups or invaders.

The inhabitants of Chichilticale did not have the riches the Spanish were hoping for, and when they could not offer gold, Coronado's men became frustrated. In the days that followed, there was a scuffle between the Spanish and the local inhabitants. The Spanish saw this as a sign of resistance, which led to further conflict. Despite their initial failure to find treasure, Coronado and his men left behind some of their horses and supplies when they moved on to the next phase of their exploration.

Identification of Chichilticale

The exact location of Chichilticale has been the subject of historical debate, as the Spanish left only vague descriptions of the site. However, historians and archaeologists have speculated about several possible sites based on clues from Coronado’s reports. Some of the most common theories suggest that Chichilticale may have been located:

1. Near the San Pedro River: The river flows through a region of Arizona where Puebloan settlements were known to exist, and the area aligns with Coronado’s route as he passed through the region.

2. In the vicinity of the Sierra Ancha: The Sierra Ancha mountains to the north of modern-day Phoenix may have been an area where Coronado’s forces traversed on their way to the larger pueblo settlements of the Southwest.

3. Near the Mexican Border: Another possibility is that Chichilticale was farther south, close to what is now the Arizona-Mexico border, as Coronado’s route took him across a wide swath of territory in search of gold.

Importance of Chichilticale in Coronado's Expedition

While Chichilticale was not a "City of Gold," it was important in the context of the expedition for several reasons:

1. Cultural Exchange: The encounter with Chichilticale allowed the Spanish to interact with the native peoples of the region, gaining valuable insights into their way of life, agricultural practices, and settlement patterns. The Puebloan peoples were skilled in agriculture and construction, and these skills would influence the later Spanish missions and settlements in the region.

2. Geographical Knowledge: Chichilticale’s location helped expand the geographical knowledge of the Spanish in the region, marking their increasing awareness of the layout of the Southwest.

3. Frustration and Disillusionment: For Coronado’s men, Chichilticale was a symbol of their growing frustration with the expedition. They had hoped to find a rich civilization, but instead, they encountered a well-organized but unwealthy pueblo. This pattern continued throughout the expedition, contributing to their eventual decision to turn back after reaching the plains of Kansas.

4. Tension with Native Tribes: While the Spanish interaction with the people of Chichilticale was not as violent as with some other tribes, the growing tensions and the inability to find the riches they sought made the expedition increasingly hostile toward the native populations.

Legacy of Chichilticale

Although Chichilticale did not live up to the expectations of Coronado’s expedition, it is important in the context of Spanish exploration and interaction with Native American cultures in the Southwest. The encounter with the Puebloan peoples at Chichilticale was part of the broader pattern of Spanish exploration in the region, which would eventually lead to the establishment of Spanish missions, settlements, and continued encounters with Native American tribes in Arizona, New Mexico, and beyond.

Despite the lack of treasure or major discoveries, the exploration of Chichilticale contributed to the Spanish understanding of the geography and indigenous cultures of the American Southwest, laying the groundwork for later colonization efforts. The search for gold may have been the driving force behind the expedition, but the long-term effects of these interactions were cultural and territorial, rather than material wealth.