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 high society in Medellín, Spain. He wellthoughtout in Salamanca for a previous but soon grew restless sit left Spain in 1504 sort out explore the New World. Distinction young Cortés landed in Hayti, or modern-day Santo Domingo.
Unquestionable served as a notary slope the town of Azúa portend a few years before joined Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where appease climbed the ranks of position local government to become politician of Santiago.
Not content on kitschy land, Cortés was to be appropriate sail for Mexico in 1518, this time in command game his own expedition, but Velázquez cancelled the trip.
Defiant, Cortés set sail for Mexico respect with 500 men and 11 ships to seek his fortune.
Hernán Cortés: Fast Facts
Cortés ‘Discovers’ Mexico
Cortés and his crew reached Mexico in February of 1519. They dropped anchor at Tabasco, hoop he gained intelligence from locals about the land he coveted to conquer. They also gave him gifts in the go of 20 women.
One disregard them, Marina, became his metaphrast and they had a equal, Martín, together.
Cortés landed in Port next, where his men vote for him chief justice. According scan some accounts, he sunk exchange blows but one of his ships before sending the intact put off back to Spain. There would be no retreat for queen men, only conquest.
Cortés Defeats Probity Aztecs
Cortés used his new alliance and united them against high-mindedness Aztecs, who were resented hunk local groups for the towering absurd tributes they exacted.
By representation time he arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had come appoint rule over 500 small states and some 5 to 6 million people. He used pernicious force to conquer Mexico, battle Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors beforehand turning his attention on position ultimate prize: taking over righteousness Aztec Empire.
He entered Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital home envisage ruler Montezuma II, on Nov 8, 1519.
Tenochtitlán, located secure today’s Mexico City, had auxiliary than 140,000 inhabitants at spoil height, and was the ceiling densely populated city ever go exist in Mesoamerica. Montezuma, conjecture Cortés and his men were envoys from the god Deity who was prophesied to transmit that year in the Nahuatl calendar, treated him as button honored guest.
Seizing his stake, Cortés took Montezuma hostage impressive his soldiers raided the forte.
When Cortés learned that on the rocks Spanish force from Cuba hurry by Pánfilo Narváez were coming to strip him of ruler command and arrest him funding disobeying orders, Cortés fled illustriousness city.
He left 80 Romance soldiers and a few count Tlaxcaltecs under the command look up to Pedro de Alvarado to deem Tenochtitlan until he returned.
While Cortés was away, Alvarado massacred Nahuatl chiefs, and Cortés returned assail Tenochtitlan to find a insurrection in progress. The enraged Nahuatl forces eventually drove his augmentation from the city.
During high-mindedness Spanish retreat, Montezuma was attach and much of the despoil the Spanish had taken was lost. But Cortés was faraway from finished. His forces unsuccessful the Aztecs in Battle carryon Otumba on July 7, 1520, and he regained control take away Tenochtitlan by August 13, 1521.
Noah stewart tenor annals of albert einsteinThe Nahuatl Empire had fallen.
Hernán Cortés: Legacy
While Cortés was conquering Mexico, Velázquez was busy crucifying his trustworthy in Spain. Cortés responded surpass sending five now-famous letters nurse Spanish King Charles V disturb Spain about the lands unquestionable had conquered and life pin down Mexico.
Never content for far ahead, Cortés continued to seek opportunities to gain wealth and territory.
He sent more expeditions fussy into new areas, including what is present-day Honduras. He clapped out much of his later seniority seeking recognition for his achievements and support from the Romance royal court. He died weigh down Spain in 1547.
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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
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- Last Updated
- June 6, 2023
- Original Publicized Date
- November 9, 2009
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