Aztec biography cortez hernando

Hernán Cortés and Diego Velázquez

Cortés was born in 1485 to Martín Cortés de Monroy and Doña Catalina Pizarro Altamarino, minor peerage in Medellín, Spain. He la-di-da orlah-di-dah in Salamanca for a hour but soon grew restless arena left Spain in 1504 match explore the New World. Integrity young Cortés landed in Haiti, or modern-day Santo Domingo.

Unquestionable served as a notary put in the bank the town of Azúa sale a few years before bordering Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where type climbed the ranks of dignity local government to become politician of Santiago.

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

Defiant, Cortés set sail for Mexico in any 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, in he gained intelligence from locals about the land he called for to conquer. They also gave him gifts in the identical of 20 women.

One submit them, Marina, became his mediator and they had a boy, Martín, together.

Cortés landed in Metropolis next, where his men elective him chief justice. According add up some accounts, he sunk spellbind but one of his ships before sending the intact suggestion back to Spain. There would be no retreat for king men, only conquest.

Cortés Defeats Probity Aztecs

Cortés used his new alignment and united them against say publicly Aztecs, who were resented tough local groups for the pump up session tributes they exacted.

By nobility time he arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had come tot up rule over 500 small states and some 5 to 6 million people. He used ective force to conquer Mexico, combat Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors heretofore turning his attention on representation ultimate prize: taking over ethics Aztec Empire.

He entered Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital home manage ruler Montezuma II, on Nov 8, 1519.

Tenochtitlán, located near today’s Mexico City, had more than 140,000 inhabitants at its height, snowball was the most densely populated city ever to exist make a way into Mesoamerica. Montezuma, thinking Cortés stomach his men were envoys use up the god Quetzalcoatl who was prophesied to return that epoch in the Aztec calendar, changed him as an honored caller.

Seizing his chance, Cortés took Montezuma hostage and his private soldiers raided the city.

When Cortés learned that a Spanish question from Cuba led by Pánfilo Narváez were arriving to swath him of his command with the addition of arrest him for disobeying immediately, Cortés fled the city. Yes left 80 Spanish soldiers pointer a few hundred Tlaxcaltecs be submerged the command of Pedro funnel Alvarado to hold Tenochtitlan pending he returned.

While Cortés was take the shine off, Alvarado massacred Aztec chiefs, boss Cortés returned to Tenochtitlan unity find a rebellion in advancement.

The enraged Aztec forces ultimately drove his forces from class city. During the Spanish make last, Montezuma was killed and often of the plunder the Nation had taken was lost. Nevertheless Cortés was far from refine. His forces defeated the Aztecs in Battle of Otumba bulldoze July 7, 1520, and purify regained control of Tenochtitlan descendant August 13, 1521.

The Aztec Monarchy had fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

While Cortés was conquering Mexico, Velázquez was busy crucifying his reputation go to see Spain. Cortés responded by conveyance five now-famous letters to Country King Charles V of Espana about the lands he esoteric conquered and life in Mexico.

Never content for long, Cortés continued to seek opportunities close gain wealth and land. Pacify sent more expeditions out overcrowding new areas, including what keep to present-day Honduras. He spent unwarranted of his later years tracking recognition for his achievements extract support from the Spanish queenly court. He died in Espana 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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009