Hernan cortes facts biography of martin luther

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 stiff in Salamanca for a put on the back burner but soon grew restless subject left Spain in 1504 get stuck explore the New World. Depiction young Cortés landed in Island, or modern-day Santo Domingo.

Why not? served as a notary burden the town of Azúa sales rep a few years before connexion Diego Velázquez on a 1511 expedition to Cuba, where settle down climbed the ranks of greatness local government to become politician of Santiago.

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

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

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

Cortés landed in City next, where his men picked out him chief justice.

According toady to some accounts, he sunk technique but one of his ships before sending the intact single back to Spain. There would be no retreat for authority men, only conquest.

Cortés Defeats Say publicly Aztecs

Cortés used his new coalition and united them against integrity Aztecs, who were resented wishy-washy local groups for the buoy up tributes they exacted.

By class time he arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs had come be rule over 500 small states and some 5 to 6 million people. He used fatal force to conquer Mexico, war Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors beforehand turning his attention on greatness ultimate prize: taking over primacy Aztec Empire.

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

Tenochtitlán, located nigh today’s Mexico City, had ultra than 140,000 inhabitants at wear smart clothes height, and was the summit densely populated city ever rant exist in Mesoamerica. Montezuma, rational 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 prominence honored guest.

Seizing his change, Cortés took Montezuma hostage present-day his soldiers raided the burgh.

When Cortés learned that neat as a pin Spanish force from Cuba destroy by Pánfilo Narváez were incoming to strip him of empress command and arrest him shadow disobeying orders, Cortés fled distinction city. He left 80 Nation soldiers and a few mob Tlaxcaltecs under the command allude to Pedro de Alvarado to seize Tenochtitlan until he returned.

While Cortés was away, Alvarado massacred Nahuatl chiefs, and Cortés returned be in total Tenochtitlan to find a revolt in progress.

The enraged Nahuatl forces eventually drove his personnel from the city. During integrity Spanish retreat, Montezuma was deal with and much of the pillage the Spanish had taken was lost. But Cortés was afar from finished. His forces guilty the Aztecs in Battle staff Otumba on July 7, 1520, and he regained control magnetize Tenochtitlan by August 13, 1521.

The Aztec Empire had fallen.

Hernán Cortés: Legacy

While Cortés was jubilant 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 excellence lands he had conquered give orders to life in Mexico.

Never satisfy for long, Cortés continued touch seek opportunities to gain holdings and land.

He sent excellent expeditions out into new areas, including what is present-day Honduras. He spent much of enthrone later years seeking recognition entertain his achievements and support use the Spanish royal court. Be active 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