Hernan Cortez

Hernan Cortez

Cortez was born in the year 1485, in Medillin, Spain. He was educated in law, but then chose arms instead. In the year 1511, he joined Diego Velazquez in the conquest of Cuba. In 1518, Velazquez entrusted Cortez with the conquest of Mexico. Velazquez was now governor of Cuba. However, Velazquez did not want to lose his glory, and so he later revoked the order. Cortez defied the governor, and continued with his mission. He approached his destination with about 600, to 700 men.

In the year 1519, Cortez landed on Mexican shores. He sailed up the Tabasco River, and captured a village named Tabasco. Fearing him, Tabascans gave Cortez information about Mexico and its riches. Upon arriving at San Juan De Ulloa, Cortez negotiated with Mexican chiefs to set up a meeting with Montezuma. Montezuma sent riches to Cortez, but Cortez insisted on going to the capital. In the end, Cortez arranged a meeting with Montezuma. He captured Veracruz, and gained the trust of some native tribes who allied with him. This happened during the March to Tenochtitlan.

Cortez

Cortez took down the fearful people known as the Tlascalans, who later became his trusted allies. They took revenge on the town of Cholula, where Montezuma had ordered an attack to reduce Cortezes' men. In the year 1519, Cortez finally arrived in Mexico City. The emperor himself greeted Cortez and his men. The men and Cortez were thought of as gods. After being attacked by Montezuma's men at Veracruz, they immediately seized the great Aztec emperor, and took him to Spanish quarters where he was forced to surrender. However, because Mexicans had gathered at the capital, Cortez lost. He retired to Tlascala to allow his men to rest. After a quick rest, he continued to Mexico City, where after four gruesome months, he finally captured the capital.

After the siege of Tenochtitlan, he sought more riches. Hernan Cortez went as far as to burn a man's feet in order to get him to tell him where the loot was hidden. Most of this loot was taken during "La Noche Triste." Most of the treasure was lost. Due to all his conquests, and the riches that he brought to Spain, Cortez was loved. King Charles I appointed Cortez as the Governor and Captain General of the new territory. Cortez started to construct a new city in Mexico. He built it over the Aztec ruins, and soon Spanish people moved into the area. Later, the city would become the most important European city in North America. There were efforts to convert, what were seen by the Spaniards as the 'savage,' pagan people, into Christians. During the following years, Cortez developed friendships with Indians. He began digging mines, and started farmlands. His wife, Catalina, moved in with him. She is believed to have commited suicide later.

Cortez

After the reconstruction of Mexico City, Cortez's reign became corrupt. Cortez later regreted the unnecessary execution of the Indian Cuautemoc, which led him to lose his power. The Indian was hung upon orders of Cortez himself. Cortez also held trials to convict the believed murderer of Cortez's legal wife, Catalina. Spaniards began to lose respect for Cortez after this. Some of his close friends said that he seemed to have gone mad. Many historians believe that the Spanish Goverment mistreated Cortez and his work in New Spain.

Cortez

The Spanish royalty began to suspect that Cortez was planning to secede from Spain. The Spanish Crown suspected that Velazquez is behind it. Because he was suspected of secession, Cortez was suspended of his position as Governor of New Spain. Cortez made his first return to Spain, to fix some problems with his master Charles the Fifth. Cortez later returned to Mexico with new titles and honors, but with some powers withdrawn from him. Between 1530 and 1541, Cortez made more expeditions, this time to California. He began to explore the Northwestern part of Mexico, and he discovered Baja California. This was his last expedition. After this final expedition, Cortez returned to Spain. In 1547, Hernan Cortez returned again to Mexico, where he was stricken with dysentery. He died in Seville Province, on December 2, 1547. His remains were buried in Mexico.