hernando cortes

Welcome to the Welcome to the worldworld

Hernando Cortez was born in 1485

In the small town of Meddellin in south western Spain.

School DropoutSchool Dropout Hernando’s father sent

him to the university of Salamanca to study law.

Eager to gain fame and fortune Hernando only attended the school for 2 years, and at the age of 19 sailed to America. For 4 years he was a planter on the island of Hispaniola which is now known as Haiti of the Dominican Republic.

He was first married

to Catilina Xures from which there was no issue after her death he married Dona Juna de Zuniga .

Dona was the niece of the Duke Bejar from this union sprang four children one son and three daughters.

Hernando took part in the plan for the Spanish to take over Cuba.

In 1519, Cortes is made commander by the governor of Cuba to spy on the great riches of Mexico.

The Aztecs believed in 7 gods and stories that we now call superstitions.

Now, there was a myth that a major god was banished from Mexico by a higher god the legend was that one day the god would come back. Now they believed this god was light skinned, tall, and bearded and here came Cortez looking just like him! Now they never saw such a gigantic ship so they thought he had arose from a sea kingdom. Now they thought he’d be angry and they wouldn’t dare fight a god, so Cortes was treated like a god. Cortes wasn’t afraid to fight and as soon as he didn’t get what he wanted they fought and Spain won.

After planning the expedition in Cuba, Cortes began the conquest of the Aztec empire (Mexico) from 1519-1521. Tenochitlan, the capital city was rebuilt as Mexico the capital vice royalty of New Spain

Within 30 years it had the first printing press, cathedral, and university in the Americas. Indians were far out numbered by about 8,000 Spaniards and 5,000 Africans of different origins living there by 1550. Beginning in the capital the Spanish spread out what is now known as New Mexico and Guatemala.

Welcome CortezWelcome Cortez

On November 8, 1519 Cortes reached Tenochitilan now (Mexico City) and was welcomed by Montezuma the Aztec emperor.

Cortes learned that the Aztecs had plundered the Veracruz. He seized Montezuma and forced him to surrender the attackers whom he had executed

Goodbye Cruel WorldGoodbye Cruel World

Cortez died in 1545. He died of old age

Here is a document signed By HERNANDO CORTES

Any QuestionsAny Questions

Where was he born?Where did his father send him to study law?Who was he first married to? By how much were the Aztecs out

numbered?