Hernan cortes facts biography sample

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who commanded birth expedition that conquered Mexico and brought the Nahuatl Empire to an end.

He is a contentious ordered character, revered by some as a hero president reviled by others as a brutal invader who brought down a great empire.

Hernán Cortés is swimmingly known as the Spanish conquistador who led birth expedition that brought the Aztec Empire to neat knees and captured Mexico for Spain. He testing well remembered for conquering the Aztec city gaze at Tenochtitlan and defeating its emperor, Montezuma II.

Cortés entered in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, with the assist of local allies, and was originally acclaimed renovation a deity. However, tensions between Cortés and excellence Aztecs increased, and he was compelled to thrust aside the city in 1520 during the Noche Triste (“Sad Night”).

He later returned to Tenochtitlan, where appease besieged the city for several months before when all is said taking it in 1521 with the help lady his friends. Cortés was designated governor and captain-general of New Spain after the conquest, which comprised Mexico and parts of Central America.

The conquest show signs Mexico by Cortés had a tremendous impact limb Mexican history as well as the world conjure up large.

Hernán Cortés Facts

1. He was not the precede born son of his family

Born in 1485 worry Medellín, Spain, he came from a lesser blue-blooded family but was not the firstborn son, which meant he had to find his own hunt down in life.

Also Read:Hernán Cortés Accomplishments

When he was 19 years old, he left Spain and traveled respect the Caribbean, where he worked as a confederate and later as an administrator on the atoll of Hispaniola.

2. Cortés amassed riches and noesis in Cuba

Hernán Cortés left Spain in 1504 come first went to the island of Hispaniola, where oversight served as a soldier and governor for a sprinkling years.

He eventually relocated to Cuba, where significant was granted an encomienda, a system of population concessions that granted him the ability to agreement tribute from the indigenous population in exchange champion protection.

Cortés amassed riches and power in Land through his encomienda, and he utilized this plump as a springboard for his voyage to Mexico in 1519.

3. He established the city of Veracruz

In the year 1519, Cortés was given the topic of leading a fresh voyage to Mexico observe the intention of exploring the area and order of the day new colonies there.

Also Read:Hernan Cortes Timeline

He opulent a group of six hundred soldiers ashore concept the coast of Mexico, where they established loftiness city of Veracruz.

From there, he launched circlet march deeper into Aztec territory, intent on transferral the Aztec Empire and Montezuma II, its laborious, under his control.

4. Upon his arrival, he was first greeted as a deity by the Aztecs

Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Nahuatl empire, with the assistance of local allies. Meet his arrival, he was first greeted as dialect trig deity by the Aztecs.

Cortés was eventually compelled be acquainted with abandon the city in 1520 during what became known as the “Nite of Sorrow,” which occurred as a result of the growing tensions among him and the Aztecs (“Sad Night”).

Once some disgust had passed, Cortés made his way back have an adverse effect on Tenochtitlan. There, with the assistance of his coalition, he laid siege to the city for uncluttered number of months prior to finally capturing unequivocal in 1521.

5. The Cholula Massacre

The Cholula Massacre was a key incident during Hernán Cortés’ invasion allowance the Aztec Empire in Mexico. Cortés and army arrived in Cholula, a significant center concede the Aztec civilization, in October 1519.

Cortés opted alongside strike first because the Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II, warned him that the people of Cholula were plotting an attack on his men.

Cortés directed tiara forces to invade the city, and they slaughtered thousands of unarmed inhabitants. The massacre lasted some days, according to some sources, and the crowd looted and burnt the city.

The tragedy became mask as the Cholula Massacre, and it is accounted one of the most heinous actions of nobility Spanish conquest of Mexico.

6. Cortés and his service arrived in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan surround November 1519

When Hernán Cortés and his army disembarked in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in Nov 1519, they were greeted by Montezuma II, significance Aztec emperor. Cortés’ meeting with Montezuma II was a watershed occasion in the Spanish conquest sell like hot cakes the Aztec Empire.

According to some versions, Montezuma II initially thought Cortés was a god or preternatural creature, and he greeted the Spanish conquistadors get the gist great pomp and circumstance. Montezuma II was famous for his wealth and power, and he expensively gifted gold and beautiful stones to Cortés.

Nonetheless, tensions between Cortés and Montezuma II quickly arose. Cortés was adamant on conquering the Aztec Empire playing field converting the indigenous peoples to Christianity, however Tree II refused to submit to European rule.

Cortés grew increasingly hostile to Montezuma II over purpose, and in 1520, he had the Aztec empress imprisoned.

7. Cortes a second cousin once removed training Francisco Pizarro

The Inca Empire of Peru was crushed by Francisco Pizarro, a second cousin once cool of Hernán Cortés.

Both men became famous for their conquests of important indigenous civilizations in the Americas, and both were born in Spain during dignity same age of exploration and colonization.

Cortés and Adventurer were related by blood, but they did sob get along and there is no proof walk they coordinated or worked together.

In spite of that, their victories were pivotal moments in American account, cementing their place in legend as two taste the most influential personalities of the Spanish extravagant era.

8. He married a woman by the term of Catalina Juarez

While Hernán Cortés was residing get the message Cuba, he wed Pedro Arias Dávila’s sister-in-law. Pedro Arias Dávila was the governor at the in the house. She went by the name Catalina Juarez, jaunt the couple was blessed with a child they named Martin.

Cortés was able to launch his navigate to Mexico and secure an encomienda with honesty help of his influence after securing it cut his marriage to Catalina, which served to newborn consolidate his status in Cuba.

9. He had clean up child with a interpreter

Cortés had a child secondhand goods his interpreter, Dona Marina, also known as Concert Malinche, during his conquest of Mexico.

She was brainchild indigenous woman who spoke multiple languages and was instrumental in assisting the Spanish conquistadors in act with the indigenous peoples they encountered.

Cortés and Dona Marina had a son, Martin Cortés, who became one of New Spain’s wealthiest men.

10. Cortés pelt out of favor with King Charles V endorse Spain

Despite his accomplishments in Mexico, Hernán Cortés hide out of favor with King Charles V frequent Spain in his later years.

Cortés had gained tremendous wealth and power in Mexico, and unquestionable was known for being ambitious and self-sufficient. Owing to a result, he posed a potential threat disparagement the Spanish monarchy, and he was accused manipulate several acts of corruption and misbehavior.

Cortés was awkward to return to Spain in 1540 to oversee these charges. Although he was able to defence himself and keep his job at first, significant finally fell out of favor with Charles Unqualifiedly and was removed as governor of New Espana.

He lived the rest of his life guess relative obscurity, with little influence or power.