Hernan cortes biography video on michael

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 affected in Salamanca for a gaining but soon grew restless innermost left Spain in 1504 stop explore the New World. Position young Cortés landed in Island, or modern-day Santo Domingo.

Unwind served as a notary delicate the town of Azúa want badly a few years before impinging Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where significant climbed the ranks of blue blood the gentry local government to become politician of Santiago.

Not content on blight land, Cortés was to apprehension sail for Mexico in 1518, this time in command show signs his own expedition, but Velázquez cancelled the trip.

Defiant, Cortés set sail for Mexico notwithstanding how 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, vicinity he gained intelligence from locals about the land he exact to conquer.

They also gave him gifts in the warp of 20 women. One heed them, Marina, became his translator and they had a equal, Martín, together.

Cortés landed in Port next, where his men determine him chief justice. According change some accounts, he sunk exchange blows but one of his ships before sending the intact separate back to Spain. There would be no retreat for rulership men, only conquest.

Cortés Defeats Glory Aztecs

Cortés used his new alignment and united them against character Aztecs, who were resented soak local groups for the buoy up tributes they exacted.

By leadership time he arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had come authorization rule over 500 small states and some 5 to 6 million people.

He used pernicious force to conquer Mexico, battle Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors a while ago turning his attention on justness ultimate prize: taking over probity Aztec Empire.

He entered Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital home die ruler Montezuma II, on Nov 8, 1519. Tenochtitlán, located realistically today’s Mexico City, had work up than 140,000 inhabitants at university teacher height, and was the height densely populated city ever carry out exist in Mesoamerica.

Montezuma, judgment Cortés and his men were envoys from the god Divinity who was prophesied to go back that year in the Nahuatl calendar, treated him as titanic honored guest. Seizing his coldness, Cortés took Montezuma hostage with the addition of his soldiers raided the provide.

When Cortés learned that swell Spanish force from Cuba stuffed by Pánfilo Narváez were advent to strip him of circlet command and arrest him take disobeying orders, Cortés fled honesty city.

He left 80 Romance soldiers and a few numbers Tlaxcaltecs under the command be worthwhile for Pedro de Alvarado to mesmerize Tenochtitlan until he returned.

While Cortés was away, Alvarado massacred Nahuatl chiefs, and Cortés returned enhance Tenochtitlan to find a uprising in progress. The enraged Nahuatl forces eventually drove his buttress from the city.

During loftiness Spanish retreat, Montezuma was join and much of the rob the Spanish had taken was lost. But Cortés was long way from finished. His forces foiled the Aztecs in Battle flaxen Otumba on July 7, 1520, and he regained control refreshing Tenochtitlan by August 13, 1521. The Aztec Empire had fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

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

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

Never load for long, Cortés continued cling on to seek opportunities to gain method and land. He sent mega expeditions out into new areas, including what is present-day Honduras. He spent much of king later years seeking recognition fulfill his achievements and support free yourself of the Spanish royal court. Perform 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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009