Vicente de Zaldívar

Vicente de Zaldívar (c. 1573-c. 1650) was a Spanish soldier and explorer in New Mexico. He won the Battle of Acoma Pueblo at the Acoma Pueblo in 1599.

Vicente de Zaldívar was born circa 1573. His father, Vicente de Zaldívar, Sr., served in the Mixtón War of 1540-1542 alongside his uncle (thus Vicente's great-uncle), Cristóbal de Oñate. His mother was Magdalena de Mendoza y Salazar. He had a brother, Juan de Zaldívar. Juan de Oñate was their uncle and second cousin.

In 1595, Zaldívar was appointed Sargento mayor by his uncle, Juan de Oñate, in their colonization of New Mexico for the Spanish Crown. They departed in 1598. After his brother was murdered by Native Americans at Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico on December 4, 1598, Zaldívar was promoted to Maestre de Campo. By January 1599, Zaldívar won the Battle of Acoma Pueblo. Poet Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá subsequently wrote a poem about his victory.

Zaldívar was maestro de campo in the expedition to Quivira in 1601. During that process, he encountered the Jumano people and served in the Jumano War of 1601.

Zaldívar received the Order of Santiago in 1626.

Zaldívar married María de Oñate, who was his cousin (Juan de Oñate's daughter). They had an only son, Nicolas de Zaldívar y Oñate, who was later appointed Adelantado.

Zaldívar died circa 1650.