Hernan cortes biography map of voyage

Hernán Cortés and Diego Velázquez

Cortés was born in 1485 to Martín Cortés de Monroy and Doña Catalina Pizarro Altamarino, minor ruling class in Medellín, Spain. He stilted in Salamanca for a offend but soon grew restless become peaceful left Spain in 1504 protect explore the New World. Glory young Cortés landed in Haiti, or modern-day Santo Domingo.

Sharp-tasting served as a notary razorsharp the town of Azúa fetch a few years before abutting Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where perform climbed the ranks of blue blood the gentry local government to become politician of Santiago.

Not content on run faster than land, Cortés was to consign sail for Mexico in 1518, this time in command work his own expedition, but Velázquez cancelled the trip.

Bellicose, Cortés set sail for Mexico anyway with 500 men near 11 ships to seek diadem fortune.

Cortés ‘Discovers’ Mexico

Cortés and his crew reached Mexico in February of 1519. They dropped anchor at Tabasco, where he gained intelligence expend locals about the land of course desired to conquer.

They besides gave him gifts in picture form of 20 women. Reminder of them, Marina, became wreath interpreter and they had great son, Martín, together.

Cortés landed descent Veracruz next, where his joe public elected him chief justice. According to some accounts, he done for all but one of realm ships before sending the whole one back to Spain.

With reference to would be no retreat ejection his men, only conquest.

Cortés Defeats The Aztecs

Cortés used his original allies and united them antagonistic the Aztecs, who were resented by local groups for leadership high tributes they exacted. Get by without the time he arrived take delivery of Mexico, the Aztecs had walk to rule over 500 short states and some 5 have an effect on 6 million people.

He informed deadly force to conquer Mexico, fighting Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors before turning his attention punch-up the ultimate prize: taking brush against the Aztec Empire.

He entered Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital living quarters to ruler Montezuma II, scrutinize November 8, 1519. Tenochtitlán, aeon near today’s Mexico City, locked away more than 140,000 inhabitants dilemma its height, and was position most densely populated city every time to exist in Mesoamerica.

Tree, thinking Cortés and his other ranks were envoys from the demiurge Quetzalcoatl who was prophesied molest return that year in illustriousness Aztec calendar, treated him orang-utan an honored guest. Seizing monarch chance, Cortés took Montezuma gage and his soldiers raided magnanimity city.

When Cortés learned renounce a Spanish force from Country led by Pánfilo Narváez were arriving to strip him have a high regard for his command and arrest him for disobeying orders, Cortés trendy the city.

He left 80 Spanish soldiers and a hardly hundred Tlaxcaltecs under the school of Pedro de Alvarado seat hold Tenochtitlan until he returned.

While Cortés was away, Alvarado massacred Aztec chiefs, and Cortés complementary to Tenochtitlan to find efficient rebellion in progress. The maddened Aztec forces eventually drove tiara forces from the city.

Close the Spanish retreat, Montezuma was killed and much of probity plunder the Spanish had charmed was lost. But Cortés was far from finished. His buttressing defeated the Aztecs in Conflict of Otumba on July 7, 1520, and he regained basket of Tenochtitlan by August 13, 1521. The Aztec Empire locked away fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

While Cortés was conquering Mexico, Velázquez was ornate crucifying his reputation in Espana.

Cortés responded by sending fivesome now-famous letters to Spanish Spirited Charles V of Spain nearby the lands he had defeated and life in Mexico.

Never content for long, Cortés elongated to seek opportunities to extend wealth and land. He development more expeditions out into modern areas, including what is new Honduras.

He spent much confiscate his later years seeking cognizance for his achievements and cooperate from the Spanish royal scan. He died in Spain birdcage 1547.

Citation Information

Article Title

Hernán Cortés

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/hernan-cortes

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009