Hernán Cortés 1485-1547

Hernán Cortés was the conquistador who conquered Mexico for Spain Cortés was part of a new generation that would establish the Spanish Empire in the Americas

Early Life Born in Medellin, in the Kingdom of Castile in Spain in 1485 His father, Martín Cortés de Monroy, was an infantry captain of distinguished ancestry but slender means. His mother was Catalina Pizarro Altamirano Second cousin to Francisco Pizarro, who later conquered the Inca empire of modern-day Peru Studied at the University of Salamanca

Arrival in the New World It was planned in 1502 for Cortés to sail to the Americas Finally arrived in 1503, reaching Hispaniola Later sailed to Santo Domingo, the capital of Hispaniola and applied for citizenship Citizenship entitled him to land

The Invasion of Mexico Most notable achievement of Cortés career, was the invasion of Mexico and the conquest of the Aztec empire The decisive battle in this campaign was the seige of Tenochtitlan Victory over the Aztecs enabled the eventual Spanish conquest of Mexico

Appointment to Governorship of Mexico Because of his conquests, Cortés was very popular back home in Spain. King Charles I of Spain, appointed Cortés governor and captain general of the newly conquered territory. Cortés received the title Marques del Valle de Oaxaca in 1528.

Appointment to Governorship of Mexico (con...) Cortés began the construction of Mexico City on the Aztec ruins and brought many Spaniards over to live there. Became the most important European city in North America Cortés also supported efforts to convert Indians to Christianity Cortés spent the next seven years establishing peace among the Indians of Mexico and developing mines and farmlands.

Exploration of Honduras In 1524, his restless urge to explore and conquer took Cortés south to the jungles of Honduras. Cortés took off on an expedition through Guatemala to Honduras to punish a fellow Spaniard who had betrayed him, and with his departure all shadow of personal authority left Mexico. The two arduous years that he spent on this disastrous expedition damaged his health and his position.

Final Days and Death Having spent a great deal of his own money to finance expeditions, he was now heavily in debt. In February 1544 he made a claim on the royal treasury, but was given a royal runaround for the next three years. Disgusted, he decided to return to Mexico in 1547. When he reached Seville, he was stricken with dysentery He died in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Seville province, on Dec. 2, 1547, from a case of pleurisy at age 62.

Assessment of Cortés In Mexico today, Cortés is condemned as a modern-day damnatio memoriae. In all of Mexico only the castle in the center of Cuernavaca city bears his name. Muralists depict him as a deformed monster with the face of Evil Incarnate

Facts You can spell his last name either Cortes or Cortez. Hernando and Fernando are Hernan's nicknames. He was the governor of Cuba.