Hernán Cortés, born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain, was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire in 1521. Here are some key points about his life and conquests:
- Early Life: Cortés was born into a family of minor nobility. He studied law at the University of Salamanca but left to pursue a life of adventure in the New World.
- Arrival in the New World: In 1504, Cortés sailed to the Caribbean, initially settling in Hispaniola. He moved to Cuba in 1511, where he participated in the conquest of the island under the command of Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar.
- Expedition to Mexico: In 1518, Cortés was appointed to lead an expedition to explore and secure the interior of Mexico. Against orders from Velázquez, he established the town of Vera Cruz and declared himself the captain-general of the expedition, freeing himself from Velázquez's authority.
- Conquest of the Aztec Empire:
- Initial Contact: Cortés first made contact with the Aztecs in 1519, where he was initially welcomed by Moctezuma II, the Aztec Emperor.
- La Noche Triste: After initially being welcomed, tensions rose, leading to the La Noche Triste (The Sad Night) in June 1520, where Cortés and his men were forced to retreat from Tenochtitlán with heavy losses.
- Siege of Tenochtitlán: Cortés returned with more forces, including Tlaxcalan allies, and laid siege to Tenochtitlán, which eventually fell in August 1521 after a brutal campaign.
- Colonial Rule: After the fall of the Aztec Empire, Cortés was made governor of New Spain. However, his power was soon curtailed by royal officials sent from Spain, and he was eventually recalled to Spain in 1528.
- Later Years: Cortés spent his later years attempting to regain influence and exploring further territories in Honduras and Baja California. He died in Spain in 1547, largely out of favor with the Spanish crown.
Legacy: Cortés's actions have a complex legacy. He is seen both as a hero who expanded the Spanish Empire and as a figure of controversy due to his methods and the suffering his conquests brought upon indigenous peoples. His conquest significantly impacted the cultural and demographic landscape of Mexico.
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