|
Hernan Cortes - Explorer (1485 -
1547) |
From a lowly beginning, Hernan Cortes earned
respect and great rewards as a Spanish explorer
and conquistador. He took part in several expeditions
for Spain, most notably into Mexico where he
conquered the Aztec Empire. He founded
Veracruz and Mexico City before going on to
discover California.
This page details facts about Hernan Cortes's
life and the events that shaped his history.
|
|
Hernan Cortes the Explorer -
Fun Facts for Kids ! |
Hernan Cortes Fact
1: |
Hernan Cortes was born in Medellin, Spain,
in 1485. He was the son of Martin Cortes de Monroy, an infantry
captain. |
Hernan Cortes Fact
2: |
Little is known of his early life, however
Hernan Cortes was believed to have studied Latin and law
before sailing for Santo Domingo, the capital of Hispaniola
in 1504. |
Hernan Cortes Fact
3: |
In 1506 Hernan Cortes took part in the
Spanish expedition to conquer Hispaniola and Cuba. The leader
of the expedition gave him a large estate as a reward
for his services. |
Hernan Cortes Fact
4: |
In 1511 Hernan Cortes joined an expedition,
led by Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, to complete the conquest
of Cuba. Following this expedition, Diego Velazquez became
Governor of Cuba and appointed Cortes as his Secretary.
He later became Alcalde (Spanish Municipal Magistrate),
and married Catalina Juarez, who was Diego Velazquez’s sister
in law. |
Hernan Cortes Fact
5: |
In October 1518 Governor Velazquez appointed
Hernan Cortes commander of an expedition to explore Mexico,
which was rumoured to hold great wealth. However, not long
before the expedition was due to leave, Velazquez relieved
Cortes of his command. Hernan Cortes chose to ignore the
orders and, in February 1519, set off for Mexico. |
Hernan Cortes Fact
6: |
Hernan Cortes landed on the Yucatan Peninsula
in Mayan territory and, in March 1519, claimed the land
for Spain. While there, he came upon Geronimo de Aguilar,
a Franciscan Friar who had escaped from the Mayans after
being captured following a shipwreck. |
Hernan Cortes Fact
7: |
Shortly after, Hernan Cortes founded
the first Spanish town in Mexico, Villa Rica de la Vera
Cruz (modern day Veracuz). The local people offered
some resistance however Hernan Cortes defeated them
in battle and used one of the captured women, La Malinche,
as an interpreter. Along with Geronimo de Aguilar, who
had come to learn the local language, La Malinche was
able to provide a way for Cortes to communicate with
the Aztecs. |
Hernan Cortes
Fact 8: |
As the Aztecs were the major
civilisation in the area, Hernan Cortes wanted to
meet with their King, Montezuma II. Despite several
requests, Montezuma II declined to meet with him
so he made his way to Tenochtitlan, the capital
of the Aztec Empire. During the three month journey,
he gained several allies which added to the numbers
that finally arrived in Tenochtitlan. |
Hernan Cortes
Fact 9: |
Montezuma II welcomed Cortes
to Tenochtitlan and presented him with opulent
gifts. It is believed that he was welcomed in
this way because the Aztecs considered him to
be sent by a god. However Cortes heard that
the Aztecs had killed several of the Spanish
on the coast so he took Montezuma II hostage. |
Hernan Cortes Fact 10: |
In April 1520, Panfilo de Narvaez arrived
in Mexico. He had been sent by Diego Velazquez to oppose
Cortes. Faced with this threat, Hernando Cortes left a small
force at Tenochtitlan and left to face Narvaez. After defeating
him, Cortes returned to Tenochtitlan to find that an uprising
had occurred after many unarmed Aztecs had been massacred
in the Great Temple during a festival. |
Hernan Cortes Fact 11: |
On 1st July 1520 Hernan Cortes forced
Montezuma II to face the crowds in an effort to bring the
uprising under control, however Montezuma II was killed.
It’s unclear how he died, as some say he was stoned by the
Aztecs and others that he was murdered by the Spanish. The
Spanish suffered heavy losses and were forced out of Tenochtitlan. |
Hernan Cortes Fact 12: |
In 1521 Cortes rallied and, with the
help of reinforcements from Cuba, he cut off supplies to
Tenochtitlan. After a three month siege, Hernan Cortes brought
the city to its knees and destroyed it. |
Hernan Cortes Fact 13: |
By 13 August 1521, Cortes had captured
the Aztec Empire and claimed it for Spain. The territory
became know as New Spain and Tenochtitlan was renamed Mexico
City. Cortes was appointed Governor, Captain General and
Chief Justice by King Charles I. |
Hernan Cortes Fact 14: |
In 1522 Cortes’s wife Catalina arrived
in New Spain and, during the night of 1 and 2 November,
mysteriously died. The death caused a scandal and some believed
that Hernan Cortes had murdered his wife. |
Hernan Cortes Fact
15: |
In 1524 Hernando Cortes led an expedition
to Honduras to oppose Cristobel de Olid who had claimed
the land as his own. Hernan Cortes defeated Olid and
issued orders for the arrest of the Cuban Governor,
Diego Velazquez, as he believed him to be behind Olid’s
treason. |
Hernan Cortes
Fact 16: |
In 1528, following a long period
of political battles, Hernan Cortes appeared before
Emperor Charles V (also known as King Charles I).
He was received and decorated by the Emperor, who
also gave him the noble title of Don, and named
him Marques del Valle de Oaxaca. |
Hernan Cortes
Fact 17: |
In 1529 Hernan Cortes married
Dona Juana de Zuniga, a Spanish noblewoman with
whom he would have three children. |
Hernan Cortes
Fact 18: |
In
1530 Hernan Cortes returned
to Mexico with his powers greatly reduced. His
exploration of Central America continued for
a while and led to his discovery of California. |
Hernan Cortes
Fact 19: |
Hernan Cortes returned to Spain in 1541
full of resentment at the many claims of power abuse and
debt that had been leveled at him. In February 1544 he made
a claim on the royal treasury, as he had financed many of
his expeditions with his own money and was now in debt. |
Hernan Cortes
Fact 20: |
Hernan Cortes died aged 62 on 2 December
1547 just outside Seville in Spain. |
Hernan Cortes the Explorer
(1485 - 1547) Fun Facts Info for Kids ! |
This website is one of many produced by Global Anchor Ltd, a company dedicated to free worldwide education.
|
|
|