Hernan Cortes Biography

Hernán Cortes
Hernán Cortés, Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca, was a Spanish conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire and claimed Mexico for Spain. (The Biography.com website) Cortes was born in 1485 in Medellín, in the autonomous region of Extremadura, Spain. It is believed that he studied law at the University of Salamanca. (The Biography.com website) However, after two years Cortés got tired of studying at the university and returned home to his parents who were less than impressed at his decision. At this point in his life Cortés was described by his biographer Francisco López de Gómara as ‘’restless, haughty, and mischievous’’ (Hernán Cortés, 2014), which was most likely an accurate description of the 16-year-old boy who had returned home …show more content…
Cortés left to fight against the Spanish forces. While this was taking place, an Aztec revolt began in Tenochtitlán. Cortés returned and obliged Montezuma to face the crowd, but the Aztec leader was struck by a stone and died. (BBC, 2011). The Spanish were driven out of the city, incurring heavy losses. Cortés re-organised his forces and in 1521 returned to Tenochtitlán, which fell after a three-month siege. A new settlement, Mexico City, was built on the ruins and settled with Spanish colonists, becoming the centre of Spanish America. Cortés secured control over Mexico, inflicting great cruelty on the indigenous population. (BBC, 2011). The following year, in 1522, King Charles I of Spain appointed Cortés as the governor of New …show more content…
(BBC, 2011) He travelled south to the jungles of Honduras in 1524 to stop a rebellion against him in the area. The two difficult years he spent there damaged his health and his position. Officials seized his property and reports of the cruelty of their administration and the chaos it created aroused concern in Spain. In 1528, amid Spanish fears that he was becoming too powerful, he was forced to return to Spain. (BBC, 2011) Cortés brought great treasures with him to plead his case to the King. King Charles reinstated him as captain general, but not as civil governor. He was also given the title ‘Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca’, which was passed down to his descendants until 1811. When Cortés returned to Mexico his powers were limited and his activities were monitored. He continued to explore Central America, hoping to find a strait from the Atlantic to the Pacific. (BBC, 2011) He was unsuccessful but instead discovered

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