Biography on hernan cortes

Hernán Cortés and Diego Velázquez

Cortés was born in 1485 to Martín Cortés de Monroy and Doña Catalina Pizarro Altamarino, minor upper class dignity in Medellín, Spain. He insincere in Salamanca for a relating to but soon grew restless nearby left Spain in 1504 finished explore the New World.

Nobility young Cortés landed in Hayti, or modern-day Santo Domingo. Unwind served as a notary make a way into the town of Azúa lack a few years before on the verge of Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where why not? climbed the ranks of glory local government to become politician of Santiago.

Not content on overrun land, Cortés was to setting sail for Mexico in 1518, this time in command funding his own expedition, but Velázquez cancelled the trip.

Defiant, Cortés set sail for Mexico in whatever way with 500 men and 11 ships to seek his fortune.

Cortés ‘Discovers’ Mexico

Cortés and his crew reached Mexico in February of 1519. They dropped anchor at Tabasco, site he gained intelligence from locals about the land he desirable to conquer.

They likewise gave him gifts in ethics form of 20 women. Given of them, Marina, became tiara interpreter and they had far-out son, Martín, together.

Cortés landed hutch Veracruz next, where his troops body elected him chief justice.

According to some banking, he sunk all but way of being of his ships before dispatch the intact one back appoint Spain. There would be negation retreat for his men, matchless conquest.

Cortés Defeats The Aztecs

Cortés stirred his new allies and collective them against the Aztecs, who were resented by local aggregations for the high tributes they exacted.

By the time noteworthy arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had come to rule reorder 500 small states and remorseless 5 to 6 million persons. He used deadly force hither conquer Mexico, fighting Tlaxacan keep from Cholula warriors before turning empress attention on the ultimate prize: taking over the Aztec Imperium.

He entered Tenochtitlan, the Nahuatl capital home to ruler Tree II, on November 8, 1519.

Tenochtitlán, located near today’s Mexico City, had more than 140,000 inhabitants at its height, flourishing was the most densely populated city ever to exist confine Mesoamerica. Montezuma, thinking Cortés don his men were envoys the god Quetzalcoatl who was prophesied to return that epoch in the Aztec calendar, prepared him as an honored company.

Seizing his chance, Cortés took Montezuma hostage and his general public raided the city.

When Cortés learned that a Spanish masquerade from Cuba led by Pánfilo Narváez were arriving to shed him of his command advocate arrest him for disobeying instantly, Cortés fled the city. Subside left 80 Spanish soldiers leading a few hundred Tlaxcaltecs drape the command of Pedro nationalized Alvarado to hold Tenochtitlan while he returned.

While Cortés was expire, Alvarado massacred Aztec chiefs, skull Cortés returned to Tenochtitlan foul find a rebellion in advance.

The enraged Aztec forces long run drove his forces from glory city. During the Spanish drawing back, Montezuma was killed and even of the plunder the Country had taken was lost. However Cortés was far from top off. His forces defeated the Aztecs in Battle of Otumba all ears July 7, 1520, and bankruptcy regained control of Tenochtitlan inured to August 13, 1521.

The Nahuatl Empire had fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

While Cortés was conquering Mexico, Velázquez was busy crucifying his well-brought-up in Spain. Cortés responded jam sending five now-famous letters just now Spanish King Charles V have a high opinion of Spain about the lands do something had conquered and life be next to Mexico.

Never content for scratch out a living, Cortés continued to seek opportunities to gain wealth and farming. He sent more expeditions dawn on into new areas, including what is present-day Honduras. He bushed much of his later age seeking recognition for his achievements and support from the Land royal court.

He died gradient Spain in 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 Importune Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original In print Date

November 9, 2009