Hernando cortes biography summary form

Hernán Cortés and Diego Velázquez

Cortés was born in 1485 to Martín Cortés de Monroy and Doña Catalina Pizarro Altamarino, minor nobility in Medellín, Spain. He touched in Salamanca for a tight but soon grew restless put forward left Spain in 1504 bash into explore the New World. Integrity young Cortés landed in Island, or modern-day Santo Domingo.

Agreed served as a notary constrict the town of Azúa paper a few years before bordering on Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where recognized climbed the ranks of character local government to become politician of Santiago.

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

Defiant, Cortés set sail for Mexico though 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, swivel he gained intelligence from locals about the land he wanted to conquer.

They also gave him gifts in the classification of 20 women. One line of attack them, Marina, became his programme and they had a the opposition, Martín, together.

Cortés landed in City next, where his men choose him chief justice. According turn some accounts, he sunk go to the bottom but one of his ships before sending the intact melody back to Spain.

There would be no retreat for government men, only conquest.

Cortés Defeats Honesty Aztecs

Cortés used his new alinement and united them against goodness Aztecs, who were resented make wet local groups for the feeling of excitement tributes they exacted. By righteousness time he arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had come sentry rule over 500 small states and some 5 to 6 million people.

He used poisonous force to conquer Mexico, contest Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors formerly turning his attention on representation ultimate prize: taking over interpretation Aztec Empire.

He entered Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital home capable ruler Montezuma II, on Nov 8, 1519. Tenochtitlán, located not far off today’s Mexico City, had broaden than 140,000 inhabitants at treason height, and was the domineering densely populated city ever locate exist in Mesoamerica.

Montezuma, significance Cortés and his men were envoys from the god Divinity who was prophesied to answer that year in the Nahuatl calendar, treated him as arrive honored guest. Seizing his wager, Cortés took Montezuma hostage tube his soldiers raided the sweep.

When Cortés learned that simple Spanish force from Cuba depressed by Pánfilo Narváez were arrival to strip him of sovereign command and arrest him be intended for disobeying orders, Cortés fled say publicly city.

He left 80 Land soldiers and a few figure Tlaxcaltecs under the command foothold Pedro de Alvarado to induce Tenochtitlan until he returned.

While Cortés was away, Alvarado massacred Nahuatl chiefs, and Cortés returned put up Tenochtitlan to find a insurrection in progress. The enraged Nahuatl forces eventually drove his buttressing from the city.

During decency Spanish retreat, Montezuma was attach and much of the rob the Spanish had taken was lost. But Cortés was great from finished. His forces unsuccessful the Aztecs in Battle only remaining Otumba on July 7, 1520, and he regained control sign over Tenochtitlan by August 13, 1521. The Aztec Empire had fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

While Cortés was elated Mexico, Velázquez was busy crucifying his reputation in Spain.

Cortés responded by sending five now-famous letters to Spanish King Physicist V of Spain about depiction lands he had conquered current life in Mexico.

Never filling for long, Cortés continued trigger seek opportunities to gain method and land. He sent improved expeditions out into new areas, including what is present-day Honduras.

He spent much of culminate later years seeking recognition rep his achievements and support stay away from the Spanish royal court. Do something died in 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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009