Cortés :: History

Cortà ©s Cortà ©s, Hernà ¡n or Cortez, Hernando (1485-1547), Spanish explorer and conqueror of the Aztec Empire of Mexico. Cortà ©s was born in Medellà ­n, Extremadura. He studied law at the University of Salamanca, but cut short his university career in 1501 and decided to try his fortune in the New World. He sailed for Santo Domingo in the spring of 1504. In 1511 he joined the Spanish soldier and administrator Diego Velà ¡zquez in the conquest of Cuba, and subsequently became alcalde (mayor) of Santiago de Cuba. In 1518 he persuaded Velà ¡zquez, who had beco1me governor of Cuba, to give him the command of an expedition to Mexico. The mainland had been discovered the year before by the Spanish soldier and explorer Francisco Fernà ¡ndez de Cà ³rdoba and subsequently by Juan de Grijalva, nephew of Velà ¡zquez. On February 19, 1519, Cortà ©s, with a force of some 600 men, fewer than 20 horses, and 10 field pieces, set sail from Cuba, despite the cancellation of his commission by Velà ¡zquez, who had become suspicious that Cortà ©s, once in a position to establish himself independently, would refuse to recognize his authority. Cortà ©s sailed along the coast of Yucatà ¡n and in March 1519 landed in Mexico, subjugating the town of Tabasco; the artillery of the Spaniards, the ships, and particularly the horses filled the natives with awe. From the natives of Tabasco Cortà ©s learned of the Aztec Empire and its ruler, Montezuma II. Cortà ©s took numerous captives, one of whom, Malinche (baptized Marina), became his mistress; out of loyalty to him she acted as the interpreter, guide, and counselor for the Spaniards. Finding a better harbor a little north of San Juan, the Spaniards moved there and established a town, La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz (now Veracruz). Cortà ©s organized an independent government, and renouncing the authority of Velà ¡zquez, acknowledged only the supreme authority of the Spanish crown. In order to prevent those of his small force who opposed this movement from deserting him and carrying the news to Cuba, Cortà ©s destroyed his fleet. After negotiations with Montezuma, who tried to persuade Cortà ©s not to enter the capital city of Tenochtitlà ¡n, Cortà ©s started his famous march inland. He overcame the native Tlascalans and then formed an alliance with them against the Aztecs, their enemies. From that time until the conquest was achieved, the Tlascalans continued to be the most important of all the native allies of the Spaniards.