Who were the first Europeans to come in contact with the native Americans in Texas and why?

The first Europeans to come into contact with Native Americans in Texas were Spanish explorers, notably Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and his companions, who arrived in the 1520s. They were part of a failed expedition led by Pánfilo de Narváez, which aimed to explore and colonize the region. Their encounters were primarily driven by the search for wealth, resources, and potential trade routes, as well as the desire to spread Christianity among indigenous populations. This initiated a complex and often tumultuous relationship between European settlers and Native American tribes.