Seven Cities of Gold (1955)
Director: Robert D. Webb.
Starring: Richard Egan (Jose Mendoza), Anthony Quinn (Capt. Gaspar de Portola), Michael Rennie (Father Junipero Serra), Jeffrey Hunter (Matuwir), Rita Moreno (Ula), Eduardo Noriega (Sergeant), Leslie Bradley (Galves), John Doucette (Juan Coronel), Victor Junces (Lt. Faces).
Portola's expedition to California in 1769 in search of fabled wealthy cities and Father Junipero Serra and the founding of the California missions.
Historical Background:
1713 -- Miguel Josep Serra i Ferrer born in Petro, Majorca.
He entered the Order of Friars Minor.
He received a doctorate in theology from Lullian University in Palma. He taught philosophy there.
1749 -- he went to Mexico City, where he taught at the College of San Fernando.
He transferred to the Sierra Gorda Mission where he stayed for nine years.
1768 -- King Carlos III of Spain ordered all the Jesuits out of "New Spain". The Franciscans took over the administration of the missions in Baja California.
1768 (March 12) -- Father Serra sailedd to the Californias. He founded the only mission in all of Baja California and the nearby Visita de la Presentación.
1769 -- he travels to San Diego where he founds a mission there. At Monterey he founded another mission. He became the Father President of Alta California.
1771 -- Serra relocates the Monterey mission to Carmel. It became known as Mission Carmel. He went on to found many other missions.
1773 -- Serra travels to Mexico City to get Pedro Fages removed as the Governor of Nueva California.
1774 -- Fages removed from office.
1782 -- Serra founded the Mission San Juan Capistrano (believed to be the oldest standing building in California).
1784 -- Father Serra died at Mission Carmel and was buried under the sanctuary floor.
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