Hernán Cortés

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought a large part of Mexico under the rule of the Spanish crown. He is one of the most consequential and the most controversial figures of the colonial era.

Early Life and Education

Cortés was born in Medellín in Extremadura in 1485. His family was of the lesser nobility and he studied briefly at the University of Salamanca.

He was drawn to the adventure of the New World and sailed to Hispaniola in 1504. He took part in the conquest of Cuba under Diego Velázquez.

He was appointed the mayor of Santiago de Cuba and acquired the land and the slaves. He was chosen to lead an expedition to the mainland of Mexico in 1519.

The Conquest of Mexico

Cortés landed on the coast of Mexico in 1519 with about five hundred men. He founded the town of Veracruz and resigned his authority from Velázquez.

He scuttled his ships to prevent the retreat and marched inland. He formed the alliances with the peoples who were subject to the Aztec Empire, including the Tlaxcalans.

He reached Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs, in November 1519. The emperor Moctezuma II received him with the gifts and the hospitality.

He took Moctezuma hostage and ruled through him. The arrival of the Spanish force sent by Velázquez forced him to leave the city and the violence followed.

The Fall of Tenochtitlan

The Spanish were driven from the city in the night known as the Noche Triste in 1520. Cortés regrouped and built a fleet of the boats on the lake.

He laid siege to Tenochtitlan in 1521 and captured the city after the months of the fighting. The Aztec Empire was destroyed and the city was rebuilt as Mexico City.

The conquest was made possible by the firearms, the horses, and the alliances with the native peoples. The epidemic of the smallpox also weakened the defenders.

Cortés was appointed the governor of the new colony but was soon replaced by the crown. He returned to Spain to defend his position and was granted the title of the Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca.

The Later Years and the Legacy

Cortés explored the coast of the Pacific and the Gulf of California in the later years. He sought the route to the Spice Islands without success.

He returned to Spain in 1540 and died near Seville in 1547. He was buried in Mexico City and his remains have been moved several times.

He is remembered as the conqueror of the Aztec Empire and as a figure of the Spanish colonisation. The conquest led to the destruction of the native civilisation and the death of many of the people.

He remains a controversial figure in Mexico and in Spain. The debate over his legacy is part of the wider discussion of the colonial history.

The Expedition and the Landing

Cortés landed on the coast of Mexico in 1519 with about five hundred men. He founded the town of Veracruz and resigned his authority from Velázquez.

He scuttled his ships to prevent the retreat. He marched inland and formed the alliances with the peoples subject to the Aztecs.

He reached Tenochtitlan in November 1519. The emperor Moctezuma II received him with the gifts and the hospitality.

The Conquest and the Colony

Cortés took Moctezuma hostage and ruled through him. The violence followed and the Spanish were driven from the city in the Noche Triste in 1520.

He laid siege to Tenochtitlan in 1521 and captured the city. The Aztec Empire was destroyed and the city was rebuilt as Mexico City.

He was appointed the governor of the new colony. He was soon replaced by the crown and returned to Spain.

The Controversy and the Memory

Cortés is remembered as the conqueror of the Aztec Empire. The conquest led to the destruction of the native civilisation and the death of many of the people.

He remains a controversial figure in Mexico and in Spain. The debate over his legacy is part of the wider discussion of the colonial history.

The monument to Cortés has been removed or defaced in several places. The historians continue to debate his motives and his methods.

The Alliances and the Tactics

Cortés formed the alliances with the peoples who were subject to the Aztecs. The Tlaxcalans became his most important allies.

He used the firearms, the horses, and the swords against the Aztecs. The cavalry and the cannon gave the Spanish a decisive advantage.

He exploited the divisions among the native peoples. The resentment of the subject peoples was the key to the conquest.

The Government and the Rivalry

Cortés was appointed the governor of the new colony. He was soon replaced by the crown and the royal officials.

He returned to Spain to defend his position. He was granted the title of the Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca.

He explored the coast of the Pacific and the Gulf of California. He died near Seville in 1547 and was buried in Mexico City.

See also

• Conquistador
• Aztec Empire
• Tenochtitlan
• Spanish colonisation