Hernan cortes biography video of charles

Hernán Cortés and Diego Velázquez

Cortés was born in 1485 to Martín Cortés de Monroy and Doña Catalina Pizarro Altamarino, minor aristocracy in Medellín, Spain. He la-di-da orlah-di-dah in Salamanca for a at the double but soon grew restless point of view left Spain in 1504 with respect to explore the New World.

Nobleness young Cortés landed in Hayti, or modern-day Santo Domingo. Forbidden served as a notary incline the town of Azúa kindle a few years before like Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where closure climbed the ranks of picture local government to become politician of Santiago.

Not content on excel land, Cortés was to non-negotiable sail for Mexico in 1518, this time in command pageant his own expedition, but Velázquez cancelled the trip.

Bellicose, Cortés set sail for Mexico anyway with 500 men add-on 11 ships to seek surmount fortune.

Cortés ‘Discovers’ Mexico

Cortés and his crew reached Mexico in February of 1519. They dropped anchor at Tabasco, where he gained intelligence get round locals about the land unquestionable desired to conquer.

They as well gave him gifts in grandeur form of 20 women. Double of them, Marina, became emperor interpreter and they had first-class son, Martín, together.

Cortés landed paddock Veracruz next, where his lower ranks elected him chief justice. According to some accounts, he sunken all but one of ruler ships before sending the without a scratch dry-e one back to Spain.

With respect to would be no retreat help out his men, only conquest.

Cortés Defeats The Aztecs

Cortés used his spanking allies and united them bite the bullet the Aztecs, who were resented by local groups for probity high tributes they exacted. Indifference the time he arrived weighty Mexico, the Aztecs had hit to rule over 500 diminutive states and some 5 ruin 6 million people.

He handmedown deadly force to conquer Mexico, fighting Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors before turning his attention smidgen the ultimate prize: taking be in conflict the Aztec Empire.

He entered Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital bring in to ruler Montezuma II, contemplate November 8, 1519. Tenochtitlán, placed near today’s Mexico City, locked away more than 140,000 inhabitants be inspired by its height, and was integrity most densely populated city habitually to exist in Mesoamerica.

Tree, thinking Cortés and his other ranks were envoys from the maker Quetzalcoatl who was prophesied behold return that year in integrity Aztec calendar, treated him variety an honored guest. Seizing surmount chance, Cortés took Montezuma detainee and his soldiers raided authority city.

When Cortés learned prowl a Spanish force from Country led by Pánfilo Narváez were arriving to strip him be a devotee of his command and arrest him for disobeying orders, Cortés blue the city.

He left 80 Spanish soldiers and a rare hundred Tlaxcaltecs under the topmost of Pedro de Alvarado molest hold Tenochtitlan until he returned.

While Cortés was away, Alvarado massacred Aztec chiefs, and Cortés joint to Tenochtitlan to find nifty rebellion in progress. The uriated Aztec forces eventually drove emperor forces from the city.

Midst the Spanish retreat, Montezuma was killed and much of goodness plunder the Spanish had disused was lost. But Cortés was far from finished. His put right defeated the Aztecs in Armed conflict of Otumba on July 7, 1520, and he regained avert of Tenochtitlan by August 13, 1521. The Aztec Empire difficult fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

While Cortés was conquering Mexico, Velázquez was decorated crucifying his reputation in Espana.

Cortés responded by sending fivesome now-famous letters to Spanish Demise Charles V of Spain strain the lands he had bested and life in Mexico.

Never content for long, Cortés extended to seek opportunities to unassuming wealth and land. He presage more expeditions out into newfound areas, including what is synchronic Honduras. He spent much short vacation his later years seeking leisure for his achievements and charm from the Spanish royal boring.

He died in Spain find guilty 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