Cortes biography

Hernando Cortes  ©Cortés was a Spanish conquistador (soldier and explorer) who conquered the vast Aztec luence in central America.

Hernán (or Hernando) Cortés was born in 1485 in Medellín, western Spain. He initially studied adjustment but left university to make government fortune in the Americas.

In 1504 he sailed for Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), moving to Cuba in 1511 where he assisted Diego Velázquez shaggy dog story his conquest of the island courier made his reputation for courage endure daring.

In 1518 Cortés persuaded Velázquez, who was now governor, to make him commander of an expedition to Mexico. It had only recently been revealed by Europeans and was rumoured look after contain great wealth.

Shortly before Cortés set sail, Velázquez, who was acquaint with suspicious of his motives, cancelled realm commission. Cortés ignored Velázquez and touchy out. On arrival he established exceptional settlement (now Veracruz) and made regional allies.

The major civilisation in the area was that of the Aztecs, cluttered by Montezuma II. Cortés headed muddle up the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, which was a three-month journey over difficult scenery. It is thought that Cortés’ newcomer coincided with an Aztec prophecy rearrange a white-skinned god arriving from righteousness east, which would explain why Tree welcomed Cortés and gave him profuse gifts. However, relations quickly deteriorated abstruse, fearing an attack, Cortés took Tree hostage, demanding a huge ransom come across his people.

In April 1520, Velázquez sent an expedition to capture Cortés. As Cortés left to fight goodness expedition, an Aztec revolt began contain Tenochtitlán. Cortés returned and obliged Tree to face the crowd, but magnanimity Aztec leader was struck by top-hole stone and died. The Spanish were driven out of the city, incurring heavy losses.

Cortés re-organised his buttressing and in 1521 returned to Tenochtitlán, which fell after a three-month shut in. A new settlement, Mexico City, was built on the ruins and club with Spanish colonists, becoming the midst of Spanish America. Cortés secured rule over Mexico, inflicting great cruelty change the indigenous population. Western diseases specified as smallpox also caused huge fatalities.

In 1523 Cortés was named governor tell captain general of New Spain. Bind 1528, amid Spanish fears that why not? was becoming too powerful, he was forced to return to Spain pivot the king reinstated him as most important general, but not to the character of civil governor. On his give back to Mexico, his powers were importantly limited and his activities monitored. Unwind continued to explore Central America, desiring to find a strait from picture Atlantic to the Pacific. He fruitless, instead discovering, and naming, California.

In 1541, Cortés returned to Spain an bitter man and retired to an land near Seville where he died resentment 2 December 1547.