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Hernán Cortés Facts & Biography | Famous Explorers

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Born: 1485 in Medellín, Castile Died: Dec 2, 1547 (at age 61-62) in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Castile Nationality: Castilian Occupation: Conquistador Famous For: Conquering Aztec Empire Hernán Cortés was a Spanish explorer and soldier who conquered the Aztec empire. This resulted in large areas of Mexico's mainland

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Young Cortés

Portrait of Young Cortés, 16th century, located at the Museo de America, Madrid.

Introduction
With superior firepower, 600 Spaniards, a dozen horses, and thousands of native allies, Hernán Cortés conquered Mexico for Spain. This also marked the fall of the Aztec Empire. His conquest enabled Spain to create a stronghold and colonies in the New World. From a young age, Cortés sought wealth and adventure. History remembers him as a fierce conquistador (Spanish for "conqueror"). Despite his reputation, he opened the door for further exploration and conquest to the south and north

Biography Hernán (or Hernándo) Cortés was born in 1485 in the village of Medellín, located in the Estremadura province of Spain. His parents were Martin Cortés de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano. Cortés was a distant cousin to Francisco Pizarro, the explorer who conquered the Incan empire in Peru. Cortés' family was noble but not extremely wealthy. As a young child, Cortés was frequently ill, but his health improved when he was a teenager. In 1499, at the age of 14, he was sent to the University of Salamanca to prepare for a law career. However, Cortés eventually grew tired of his studies and after two years dropped out of school and returned home. Cortés wanted a life of action, and was fascinated by the tales of gold and riches in the New World. He signed up with an expedition to the New World led by Nicolás de Ovando, who was the governor of Hispaniola. But an accident from a fall which buried him under rubble severely injured his back.
Early Life
¹ So he could not sail with Ovando's fleet.

Talk of the New World and the allure of wealth continued to captivate young Cortés. In 1504, he sought passage on a ship to Santo Domingo, Hispaniola (modern day Dominican Republic). Cortés began farming in the Spanish colony, which brought him much wealth, and owned several native slaves. He finally got his first taste of exploration when he joined a mission under led by Diégo Velasquez in 1511. When he returned, he promised to marry Catalina Suarez, the sister of his friend Juan Suarez, but backed out at the last minute. Velasquez, now governor of Cuba, imprisoned Cortés for not upholding his promise. ² Eventually, Cortés agreed to marry Catalina, but relations between Velázquez and Cortés remained tense.In 1518, appointed Cortés to lead an expedition to conquer the interior of Mexico. He then withdrew the order because he grew suspicious of Cortés' strong will and thirst for power. Cortés disobeyed Velasquez and set out for Mexico in 1519 to begin his invasion.

Voyages In 1519, Hernán Cortés left Cuba with about 600 men, and set out for the Yucatan region of Mexico.
Principal Voyage
³ He first arrived in Cozumel, and began to explore the land for colonization. He encountered natives, and their large pyramid. He noticed the blood stains and human remains, and learned that this pyramid was used for human sacrifices to their gods. ⁴ Appalled, Cortés began his efforts to convert the natives to Christianity. He tore down their idols and replaced them with crosses and statues of the Virgin Mary. Cortés relied on native translators and guides to communicate with the natives, and travel the land. Soon after, Cortés and his men sailed on and landed at Tabasco. Here, Cortés and his men clashed with the natives. On March 25, 1519, in the Cintla Valley, the two sides fought in a battle known as the Battle of Cintla. The natives were no match for the Spanish soldiers weaponry and armor. 800 Tabascans were killed; only 2 Spanish men were killed. ⁵ The Tabascans pledged their loyalty to Spain, and gave Cortés gold and slave women.

One of the chieftains gifted a slave woman to Cortés named Malinche. She was bilingual so she spoke both Aztec and Mayan languages, which made her very useful to Cortés. She eventually learned Spanish, and became Cortés's personal interpreter, guide, and mistress. They had a son named Martin. Having conquered the Tabascan people, Cortés moved up the coast to Tlaxcala, a city of the mighty Aztec empire. The Aztecs were not always popular rulers among their subjected cities. When Cortés learned of this, he used it to his advantage. He met with Aztec ambassadors, and told them he wished to meet the great Aztec ruler Montezuma. Xicotenga, a ruler in the city Tlaxcala, saw an ally in Cortés, and an opportunity to overthrow the capital city of Tenochtitlán. They formed an allegiance, and Cortés was given several thousand warriors to add to his ranks. By this time, Cortés' men were beginning to grumble about Cortés. He continued ignoring Velázquez's orders to return to Cuba, and the men felt he was overstepping his authority. Afraid his men would leave, Cortés destroyed all the ships. ⁶ With nowhere for the men to go, they followed Cortés onward to Tenochtitlán.

Subsequent Voyages Cortés and his men marched to Tenochtitlán. They reached the capital of the Aztec empire on November 8, 1519.
⁷ The ruler of the Aztec civilization was Montezuma II. Montezuma, though uncertain of the Spaniards' intent, welcomed them graciously. He gave them a tour of his palace, and they were given extravagant gifts. This fueled the Spaniards' greed and relations turned hostile shortly after. Cortés took Montezuma captive and the Spaniards raided the city. Montezuma was murdered shortly after from being stoned by his own people. ⁸ In 1520, Spanish troops had been sent to Mexico to arrest Cortés for disobeying orders. He left Tenochtitlán to face the opposing Spaniards. After defeating them, Cortés returned to the Aztec capital to find a rebellion in progress. The Spaniards had been driven from the city. Cortés reorganized his men and allies, and seized control of neighboring territories around the capital. They regained control of the city by August of 1521. This marked the fall of the Aztec empire. Cortés had seized control of Mexico for Spain. Cortés was named governor, and went on to establish Mexico City, built on the ruins of the fallen Aztec capital.

Later Years and Death Several years after his conquest of Mexico, Cortés endured many challenges to his status and position. He had been appointed the governor, yet was removed from power after returning from a trip to Honduras in 1524. Cortés went to Spain to met with the Spanish king in order to reclaim his title, but never gained it back. He returned to Mexico after his failing with the king and partook in several more expeditions throughout the New World. Cortés retired in Spain in 1540. He died seven years later on December 2, 1547 at his home in Seville from a lung disease called pleurisy.
⁹

Hernán Cortés remains one of the most successful of the Spanish conquistadors. He was a hero in the 16th century, but history remembers him differently. He had many conquests during his life. But he is perhaps most known for his conquer of the Aztec Empire in 1521. He enslaved much of the native population, and many of the indigenous people were wiped out from European diseases such as smallpox. He was a smart, ambitious man who wanted to appropriate new land for the Spanish crown, convert native inhabitants to Catholicism, and plunder the lands for gold and riches. However, we still recognize his role in history. He helped oversee the building of Mexico City, which is still Mexico's capital today. He opened the door for further exploration and conquest of Central America to the south, and eventually led to the acquisition of California towards the north.

1. Patricia Calvert, Hernándo Cortés: Fortune Favored the Bold (New York: Benchmark Books, 2003), 11.

2. Buddy Levy, Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs (New York: Bantam Books, 2008), 8.

3. Fergus Fleming, Off the Map: Tales of Endurance and Exploration (New York: Grove Press, 2004), 63.

4. Levy, Conquistador, 26-27.

5. Thomas Streissguth, Hernán Cortés, (Mankato: Capstone Press, 2004), 12.

6. Jeff Donaldson-Forbes, Hernán Cortés (New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2002), 21

7. Donaldson-Forbes, Hernán Cortés, 22

8. L. L. Owens, A Journey with Hernán Cortés (Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., 2017), 32.

Bibliography

Calvert, Patricia. Hernándo Cortés: Fortune Favored the Bold. New York: Benchmark Books, 2003.

Donaldson-Forbes, Jeff. Hernán Cortés. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2002.

Fleming, Fergus. Off the Map: Tales of Endurance and Exploration. New York: Grove Press, 2004.

Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. New York: Bantam Books, 2008.

Owens, L.L. A Journey with Hernán Cortés. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., 2017.

Streissguth, Thomas. Hernán Cortés. Mankato: Capstone Press, 2004.

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Portrait of Young Cortés, 16th century, located at the Museo de America, Madrid. Introduction With superior firepower, 600 Spaniards, a dozen horses, and thousands of native allies, Hernán Cortés conquered Mexico for Spain. This also marked the fall of the Aztec Empire. His conquest enabled Spain to create a stronghold and colonies in the New World.

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Hernan Cortes: The Conquistador of the Aztecs | Tooky History

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Hernan Cortes: Conquered the Aztec Empire - Fast Facts | History

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Newsela | Clash of Cultures: Cortes Conquers Moctezuma and the Aztecs

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A case of mistaken identity brought the end of the Aztec empire.

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Newsela | Primary Sources: Cortes Describes the Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlan, 1520

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Cortes' description of the city of Tenochtitlan

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In this brief Hernan Cortez biography, we'll try to learn a bit more about the man who tried to conquer the Aztec empire. In one sense, he did conquer it. In another sense, it lived on in spite of all that Hernan Cortes and his army tried to do.

Hernándo Cortés Pizarro was his full name in Spanish. He was born in 1485 in the kingdom of Castile (now a part of Spain) in the city of Medellín. His was an upper class family, though his parents weren't wealthy. He was somewhat sickly as a child, and the family's only son.

At the age of 14, his parents sent him to the University of Salamanca to eventually study law. But he wasn't happy at school, too restless to follow the rules. He did learn a little Latin, and became good at writing. After two years (failing his course) he returned home, but wasn't happy there either. As stories began to come in about the mysterious "New World", Hernan Cortez wanted to be a part of it.

After a time of doing not much, he decided to follow the life of a soldier. He joined an expedition to the New World, but never made it on board.

He was involved in an affair with a local girl. One night he was climbing a wall to get to her apartment, and the wall gave way. He crashed down, buried under the rubble, and was stuck in bed until after his ship had departed.

Hernan Cortez biography - the New World

Finally, in 1504, Hernan Cortes boarded a ship commanded by Alonso Quintero, departing for the west. Quintero was ambitious. More than once he tried to sneak away from his companions, so that he could secure the market for himself. He was not very successful, but perhaps his ambition rubbed off on the young Cortes.

In Hispaniola (Now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) Cortes went to the house of the Governor, who he knew from Spain. The Governor was gone, and the secretary assured him that he would be able to get a land grant. "But I came to get gold," he replied, "not to till the soil, like a peasant."

When the Governor returned, Hernan Cortez was finally convinced to take a piece of land for a time. He didn't entirely settle down, though. He was involved in the military, suppressing native uprisings. He was also often in duels over one girl or another.

Over the next few years, Hernan Cortes took part in conquests of Cuba and Hispaniola, and received more land an native slaves as a result. He became an important man in the colony of Cuba, and he became mayor of Santiago. Eventually, he married the sister-in-law of Governor Velázquez, Catalina Xuárez.

A whole other Hernan Cortez biography could be written about this time in his life. He had a very troubled time, even being put in jail at one point. He was very dissatisfied with his life, remaining ambitious for more wealth, more slaves, more adventure.

Hernan Cortez biography - on to Mexico!

Mexico was just newly discovered when Hernan Cortes was allowed to lead a small expedition to explore. The Governor actually changed his mind and cancelled the expedition, but Cortes went anyway on February 18th. It was 1519 - he would have been about 34 years old.

Cortez quickly took control of the situation. Landing in the Yucatán, he met Jeronimo de Aguilar, a Franciscan priest who knew Mayan. Cortes claimed the land for Spain, and began his conquest. He met his future mistress, who knew Mayan and Nahuatl (the language of the Aztecs). Taking his men to Veracruz, he officially ignored the authority of the Governor and claimed to be acting under the direct authority of Emperor Charles V. In reality, he was taking charge of the situation absolutely, and ready to claim the gold and power he had been looking for.

You can read about Hernan Cortes and the fall of Aztec Mexico here.

Life in New Spain

Hernan Cortes was to become the governor of New Spain, which is what his new territory was arrogantly called. He was constantly seeking to consolidate his power, increase his wealth, and put down his enemies. He also built Mexico City over the old Aztec Tenochtitlan. He sponsored exploration, the building of more cities, and the Roman Catholic evangelization of the native population. He also promoted the early sugar industry.

But in 1526 he was suspended in his role as Governor. He retained much of his power, but was increasingly opposed by his enemies. Suspected of poisoning new leadership, he returned to Spain in 1528. He would never be governor again.

He was decorated by the emperor, and returned to New Spain in 1530. After more fighting to prove his innocence and to reestablish his position of power, he decided to live in Cuernavaca, where he built his palace. He also continued exploring the Pacific coast and Baja California. His later life was not the flashy success that his ealier life had been. These explorations were not great successes.

Hernan Cortez biography - Later years

Bust of Hernan Cortes in Cuernavaca, Mexico

Now in his mid-50s, Hernan Cortes returned to Spain. Many lawsuits had been brought against him, and he was still fighting for power. He was almost entirely neglected. He finally won the right to join the emperor in his fight against Algiers. The war was not a good one for Spain, and Cortes himself was nearly drowned. He returned to Spain, still neglected and in debt, and finally decided to return to Mexico.

He never made it. On December 2, 1547 he died of pleurisy.

To close our Hernan Cortez biography, we should talk about his will. Knowing he was dying, he had time to make his last requests. He provided for his children, requested to be buried at the Hospital de Jesús Nazareno in Mexico City (today the oldest hospital in North America), and left money for a missionary training school and nunnery in Coyoacán. His body was moved to Mexico a number of years later.

For more on Hernan Cortes, read the Hernan Cortez biography in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

References (and places to add to your knowledge of the Hernan Cortez biography): Catholic Encyclopedia article on Hernando Cortés 2007; PBS timeline entry Hernan Cortes Arrives in Mexico; Cortez timeline at Elizabethan Era; History of the Conquest of Mexico by William H. Prescott, John Foster Kirk and J. B. Lippincott; Hernán Cortés: The Man Behind the Mystique by Nancy Stanley and Sirena Turner at the College of Charleston; Thinkquest article on Cortes; University of Calgary article on THE CONQUEST OF THE AZTEC EMPIRE; Historical Text Archive article by Belinda H. Nanney

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In this brief Hernan Cortez biography, we'll try to learn a bit more about the man who tried to conquer the Aztec empire. In one sense, he did conquer it. In another sense, it lived on in spite of all that Hernan Cortes and his army tried to do.

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Young Cortés

Portrait of Young Cortés, 16th century, located at the Museo de America, Madrid.

Introduction
With superior firepower, 600 Spaniards, a dozen horses, and thousands of native allies, Hernán Cortés conquered Mexico for Spain. This also marked the fall of the Aztec Empire. His conquest enabled Spain to create a stronghold and colonies in the New World. From a young age, Cortés sought wealth and adventure. History remembers him as a fierce conquistador (Spanish for "conqueror"). Despite his reputation, he opened the door for further exploration and conquest to the south and north

Biography Hernán (or Hernándo) Cortés was born in 1485 in the village of Medellín, located in the Estremadura province of Spain. His parents were Martin Cortés de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano. Cortés was a distant cousin to Francisco Pizarro, the explorer who conquered the Incan empire in Peru. Cortés' family was noble but not extremely wealthy. As a young child, Cortés was frequently ill, but his health improved when he was a teenager. In 1499, at the age of 14, he was sent to the University of Salamanca to prepare for a law career. However, Cortés eventually grew tired of his studies and after two years dropped out of school and returned home. Cortés wanted a life of action, and was fascinated by the tales of gold and riches in the New World. He signed up with an expedition to the New World led by Nicolás de Ovando, who was the governor of Hispaniola. But an accident from a fall which buried him under rubble severely injured his back.
Early Life
¹ So he could not sail with Ovando's fleet.

Talk of the New World and the allure of wealth continued to captivate young Cortés. In 1504, he sought passage on a ship to Santo Domingo, Hispaniola (modern day Dominican Republic). Cortés began farming in the Spanish colony, which brought him much wealth, and owned several native slaves. He finally got his first taste of exploration when he joined a mission under led by Diégo Velasquez in 1511. When he returned, he promised to marry Catalina Suarez, the sister of his friend Juan Suarez, but backed out at the last minute. Velasquez, now governor of Cuba, imprisoned Cortés for not upholding his promise. ² Eventually, Cortés agreed to marry Catalina, but relations between Velázquez and Cortés remained tense.In 1518, appointed Cortés to lead an expedition to conquer the interior of Mexico. He then withdrew the order because he grew suspicious of Cortés' strong will and thirst for power. Cortés disobeyed Velasquez and set out for Mexico in 1519 to begin his invasion.

Voyages In 1519, Hernán Cortés left Cuba with about 600 men, and set out for the Yucatan region of Mexico.
Principal Voyage
³ He first arrived in Cozumel, and began to explore the land for colonization. He encountered natives, and their large pyramid. He noticed the blood stains and human remains, and learned that this pyramid was used for human sacrifices to their gods. ⁴ Appalled, Cortés began his efforts to convert the natives to Christianity. He tore down their idols and replaced them with crosses and statues of the Virgin Mary. Cortés relied on native translators and guides to communicate with the natives, and travel the land. Soon after, Cortés and his men sailed on and landed at Tabasco. Here, Cortés and his men clashed with the natives. On March 25, 1519, in the Cintla Valley, the two sides fought in a battle known as the Battle of Cintla. The natives were no match for the Spanish soldiers weaponry and armor. 800 Tabascans were killed; only 2 Spanish men were killed. ⁵ The Tabascans pledged their loyalty to Spain, and gave Cortés gold and slave women.

One of the chieftains gifted a slave woman to Cortés named Malinche. She was bilingual so she spoke both Aztec and Mayan languages, which made her very useful to Cortés. She eventually learned Spanish, and became Cortés's personal interpreter, guide, and mistress. They had a son named Martin. Having conquered the Tabascan people, Cortés moved up the coast to Tlaxcala, a city of the mighty Aztec empire. The Aztecs were not always popular rulers among their subjected cities. When Cortés learned of this, he used it to his advantage. He met with Aztec ambassadors, and told them he wished to meet the great Aztec ruler Montezuma. Xicotenga, a ruler in the city Tlaxcala, saw an ally in Cortés, and an opportunity to overthrow the capital city of Tenochtitlán. They formed an allegiance, and Cortés was given several thousand warriors to add to his ranks. By this time, Cortés' men were beginning to grumble about Cortés. He continued ignoring Velázquez's orders to return to Cuba, and the men felt he was overstepping his authority. Afraid his men would leave, Cortés destroyed all the ships. ⁶ With nowhere for the men to go, they followed Cortés onward to Tenochtitlán.

Subsequent Voyages Cortés and his men marched to Tenochtitlán. They reached the capital of the Aztec empire on November 8, 1519.
⁷ The ruler of the Aztec civilization was Montezuma II. Montezuma, though uncertain of the Spaniards' intent, welcomed them graciously. He gave them a tour of his palace, and they were given extravagant gifts. This fueled the Spaniards' greed and relations turned hostile shortly after. Cortés took Montezuma captive and the Spaniards raided the city. Montezuma was murdered shortly after from being stoned by his own people. ⁸ In 1520, Spanish troops had been sent to Mexico to arrest Cortés for disobeying orders. He left Tenochtitlán to face the opposing Spaniards. After defeating them, Cortés returned to the Aztec capital to find a rebellion in progress. The Spaniards had been driven from the city. Cortés reorganized his men and allies, and seized control of neighboring territories around the capital. They regained control of the city by August of 1521. This marked the fall of the Aztec empire. Cortés had seized control of Mexico for Spain. Cortés was named governor, and went on to establish Mexico City, built on the ruins of the fallen Aztec capital.

Later Years and Death Several years after his conquest of Mexico, Cortés endured many challenges to his status and position. He had been appointed the governor, yet was removed from power after returning from a trip to Honduras in 1524. Cortés went to Spain to met with the Spanish king in order to reclaim his title, but never gained it back. He returned to Mexico after his failing with the king and partook in several more expeditions throughout the New World. Cortés retired in Spain in 1540. He died seven years later on December 2, 1547 at his home in Seville from a lung disease called pleurisy.
⁹

Hernán Cortés remains one of the most successful of the Spanish conquistadors. He was a hero in the 16th century, but history remembers him differently. He had many conquests during his life. But he is perhaps most known for his conquer of the Aztec Empire in 1521. He enslaved much of the native population, and many of the indigenous people were wiped out from European diseases such as smallpox. He was a smart, ambitious man who wanted to appropriate new land for the Spanish crown, convert native inhabitants to Catholicism, and plunder the lands for gold and riches. However, we still recognize his role in history. He helped oversee the building of Mexico City, which is still Mexico's capital today. He opened the door for further exploration and conquest of Central America to the south, and eventually led to the acquisition of California towards the north.

1. Patricia Calvert, Hernándo Cortés: Fortune Favored the Bold (New York: Benchmark Books, 2003), 11.

2. Buddy Levy, Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs (New York: Bantam Books, 2008), 8.

3. Fergus Fleming, Off the Map: Tales of Endurance and Exploration (New York: Grove Press, 2004), 63.

4. Levy, Conquistador, 26-27.

5. Thomas Streissguth, Hernán Cortés, (Mankato: Capstone Press, 2004), 12.

6. Jeff Donaldson-Forbes, Hernán Cortés (New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2002), 21

7. Donaldson-Forbes, Hernán Cortés, 22

8. L. L. Owens, A Journey with Hernán Cortés (Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., 2017), 32.

Bibliography

Calvert, Patricia. Hernándo Cortés: Fortune Favored the Bold. New York: Benchmark Books, 2003.

Donaldson-Forbes, Jeff. Hernán Cortés. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2002.

Fleming, Fergus. Off the Map: Tales of Endurance and Exploration. New York: Grove Press, 2004.

Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. New York: Bantam Books, 2008.

Owens, L.L. A Journey with Hernán Cortés. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., 2017.

Streissguth, Thomas. Hernán Cortés. Mankato: Capstone Press, 2004.

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Portrait of Young Cortés, 16th century, located at the Museo de America, Madrid. Introduction With superior firepower, 600 Spaniards, a dozen horses, and thousands of native allies, Hernán Cortés conquered Mexico for Spain. This also marked the fall of the Aztec Empire. His conquest enabled Spain to create a stronghold and colonies in the New World.

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Contents

Born around 1485 in Medellín, Spain, Cortés first served as a soldier in an expedition of Cuba led by Diego Velázquez in 1511. In 1519 Cortés was to command his own expedition to Mexico, but Velázquez cancelled it. Cortés ignored the order and traveled with about 500 men and 11 ships to Mexico.

Born in Medellín, Spain, conquistador Hernán Cortés (c. 1485-1547) first served as a soldier in an expedition of Cuba led by Diego Velázquez in 1511. He ignored orders and traveled to Mexico with about 500 men and 11 ships in 1519, setting his sights on overthrowing ruler Montezuma II in the Aztec capital of Tenochitilán. The Aztecs eventually drove the Spanish from Tenochitilán, but Cortés returned to defeat the natives and take the city in 1521. He spent much of his later years seeking recognition for his achievements and support from the Spanish royal court.

Born around 1485 in Medellín, Spain, Cortés first served as a soldier in an expedition of Cuba led by Diego Velázquez in 1511. In 1519 Cortés was to command his own expedition to Mexico, but Velázquez cancelled it. Cortés ignored the order and traveled with about 500 men and 11 ships to Mexico.

Cortés became allies with some of the native peoples he encountered, but with others he used deadly force to conquer Mexico. He fought Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors and then set his sights on taking over the Aztec empire. He marched to Tenochitilán, the Aztec capital and home to ruler Montezuma II. Cortés took Montezuma hostage and his soldiers raided the city. Cortés left the city after learning that Spanish troops were coming to arrest him for disobeying orders. He returned to Tenochitilán to find a rebellion in progress. The Aztecs eventually drove the Spanish from the city, but Cortés returned again to defeat them and take the city in 1521. After this victory, Cortés continued to seek opportunities to gain wealth and land. He sent more expeditions out into new areas, including what is present-day Honduras. He spent much of his later years seeking recognition for his achievements and support from the Spanish royal court. He died in Spain in 1547.

Biography courtesy of BIO.com

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Born around 1485 in Medellín, Spain, Cortés first served as a soldier in an expedition of Cuba led by Diego Velázquez in 1511. In 1519 Cortés was to command his own expedition to Mexico, but Velázquez cancelled it. Cortés ignored the order and traveled with about 500 men and 11 ships to Mexico.

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Quick Facts
"I love to travel, but hate to arrive.""He travels safest in the dark night who travels lightest.""Better to die with honor than live dishonored."

Name

Hernán Cortés

Birth Date

c. 1485

Death Date

December 2, 1547

Place of Birth

Medellín, Spain

Place of Death

Castilleja de la Cuesta, Spain

Who Was Hernán Cortés?

Born around 1485, Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who defeated the Aztecs and claimed Mexico for Spain.

He first set sail to the New World at the age of 19. Cortés later joined an expedition to Cuba. In 1518, he set off to explore Mexico.

Cortés strategically aligned some Indigenous peoples against others and eventually overthrew the vast and powerful Aztec empire. As a reward, King Charles I appointed him governor of New Spain in 1522.

Early Life

Cortés, marqués del Valle de Oaxaca, was born around 1485 in Medellín, Spain. He came from a lesser noble family in Spain. Some reports indicate that he studied at the University of Salamanca for a time.

In 1504, Cortés left Spain to seek his fortune in New World. He traveled to the island of Santo Domingo, or Hispaniola. Settling in the new town of Azúa, Cortés served as a notary for several years.

He joined an expedition of Cuba led by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar in 1511. There, Cortés worked in the civil government and served as the mayor of Santiago for a time.

Aztec Empire

In 1518, Cortés was to command his own expedition to Mexico, but Velázquez canceled it. In a mutinous act of defiance, Cortés ignored the order, setting sail for Mexico with more than 500 men and 11 ships that year.

In February 1519, the expedition reached the Mexican coast. By some accounts, Cortés then had all his ships destroyed except one, which he sent back to Spain. This brazen decision eliminated the possibility of any retreat.

Cortés became allies with some of the Indigenous peoples he encountered, but with others, he used deadly force to conquer Mexico. He fought Tlaxacan and Cholula warriors and then set his sights on taking over the Aztec empire.

He marched to Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital and home to ruler Montezuma II. After being invited into the royal palace, Cortés took Montezuma hostage and his soldiers plundered the city.

But shortly thereafter, Cortés hurriedly left the city after learning that Spanish troops were coming to arrest him for disobeying orders from Velázquez.

After fending off the Spanish forces, Cortés returned to Tenochtitlán to find a rebellion in progress, during which Montezuma was killed. The Aztecs eventually drove the Spanish from the city, but Cortés returned again to defeat them and take the city in 1521, effectively ending the Aztec empire.

In their bloody battles for domination over the Aztecs, Cortés and his men are estimated to have killed as many as 100,000 Indigenous peoples. King Charles I of Spain (also known as Holy Roman Emperor Charles V) appointed him the governor of New Spain in 1522.

DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY'S HERN Á N CORTÉS FACT CARD

Later Years and Death

Despite his decisive victory over the Aztecs, Cortés faced numerous challenges to his authority and position, both from Spain and his rivals in the New World. He traveled to Honduras in 1524 to stop a rebellion against him in the area.

In 1536, Cortés led an expedition to the northwestern part of Mexico, in the process exploring Baja California and Mexico's Pacific coast. This was to be his last major expedition.

Back in the capital city, Cortés found himself unceremoniously removed from power. He traveled to Spain to plead his case to the king, but he was not reappointed to his governorship.

In 1541, Cortés retired to Spain. He spent much of his later years desperately seeking recognition for his achievements and support from the Spanish royal court. Wealthy but embittered from his lack of support and acclaim, Cortés died in Spain in 1547.

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Use this link to cite where you found your information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the world book web site offers an encyclopedia

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and curriculum guides. world book is publisher of the world book encyclopedia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Book web site offers an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, homework help, study aids, and curriculum guides. World Book is publisher of the World Book Encyclopedia.