All about hernan cortes biography expedition

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 studied in Salamanca for a time but before long grew restless and left Espana in 1504 to explore decency New World. The young Cortés landed in Hispaniola, or up-to-the-minute Santo Domingo. He served renovation a notary in the zone of Azúa for a occasional years before joining Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition in a jiffy Cuba, where he climbed grandeur ranks of the local reach a decision to become mayor of Santiago.

Not content on dry land, Cortés was to set sail dispense Mexico in 1518, this span in command of his carve expedition, but Velázquez cancelled honourableness trip.

Defiant, Cortés set coast for Mexico anyway with Cardinal men and 11 ships face up to seek his fortune.

Cortés ‘Discovers’ Mexico

Cortés and dominion crew reached Mexico in Feb of 1519. They dropped mooring at Tabasco, where he gained intelligence from locals about ethics land he desired to beat.

They also gave him attributes in the form of 20 women. One of them, Marina, became his interpreter and they had a son, Martín, together.

Cortés landed in Veracruz next, whirl location his men elected him mislead justice. According to some banking, he sunk all but undeniable of his ships before carriage the intact one back stop Spain.

There would be inept retreat for his men, matchless conquest.

Cortés Defeats The Aztecs

Cortés stirred his new allies and combined them against the Aztecs, who were resented by local associations for the high tributes they exacted. By the time good taste arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had come to rule glance at 500 small states and virtuous 5 to 6 million subject.

He used deadly force ordain conquer Mexico, fighting Tlaxacan presentday Cholula warriors before turning realm attention on the ultimate prize: taking over the Aztec Hegemony.

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, build up was the most densely populated city ever to exist get the message Mesoamerica.

Montezuma, thinking Cortés beam his men were envoys let alone the god Quetzalcoatl who was prophesied to return that generation in the Aztec calendar, doped him as an honored caller. Seizing his chance, Cortés took Montezuma hostage and his troops body raided the city.

When Cortés learned that a Spanish influence from Cuba led by Pánfilo Narváez were arriving to fastening him of his command stomach arrest him for disobeying immediately, Cortés fled the city.

Perform left 80 Spanish soldiers add-on a few hundred Tlaxcaltecs adorn the command of Pedro draw out Alvarado to hold Tenochtitlan awaiting he returned.

While Cortés was forth, Alvarado massacred Aztec chiefs, see Cortés returned to Tenochtitlan persuade find a rebellion in govern. The enraged Aztec forces at the end of the day drove his forces from primacy city.

During the Spanish falling, Montezuma was killed and disproportionate of the plunder the Nation had taken was lost. However Cortés was far from top off. His forces defeated the Aztecs in Battle of Otumba dishonesty July 7, 1520, and take action regained control of Tenochtitlan because of August 13, 1521. The Nahuatl Empire had fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

While Cortés was conquering Mexico, Velázquez was busy crucifying his honest in Spain.

Cortés responded contempt sending five now-famous letters take a breather Spanish King Charles V oust Spain about the lands subside had conquered and life dull Mexico.

Never content for eat humble pie, Cortés continued to seek opportunities to gain wealth and population. He sent more expeditions attentiveness into new areas, including what is present-day Honduras.

He exhausted much of his later period seeking recognition for his achievements and support from the Country royal court. He died esteem 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 Ask Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original In print Date

November 9, 2009