Hernán Cortés
Pierce Huff
Hernán Cortés
Born 1485 in Medellin, Spain
Died December 2, 1547 in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Spain
Years of Exploration: 1511-1519
He explored Mexico
Aztec Empire
Montezuma II had visions of terrible things happening to his kingdom such as men waging war on each other and fighting on the backs of creatures that resembled deer. He had reason to fear that he would lose his kingdom because the Spanish had settled near Cuba and were making their way to his kingdom. The Spanish made many expeditions and returned with tales of a high built Mayan culture with golds and riches, these tales left an impression on Spanish colonists; including Hernan Cortes. The governor of Cuba had asked for Cortes to command two or three ships to find the rest of the money, Cortes agreed and set out on October 23, 1518.
Cortes' Expedition
The Spanish Colonists had gold fever in the sixteenth century and within a night Cortes already had two ships ready, a brigantine, and 300 men. Cortes was supposed to be relieved of command but his brother in law killed the messenger, now alerted Cortes moved fast. When Cortes arrived he went to the neighboring land known as yucatan, there, were two Christian men who had been held captive, one of those men was Geronimo de Aguilar, who had been shipwrecked near Jamaica in 1511. When Cortes arrived at Potonchan the natives gave him small offerings and a gold mask asking them to leave saying "we wish neither war nor trade" and "We have no more gold, you will be killed if you do not leave." later there was a battle that ended with 400 indians driven off with heavy losses. The Indians gave them women and one of these women was named Malinali, who spoke both Mayan and Nahuatl, the Aztec language. Cortes realized that he could, through Geronimo de Aguilar, be able to talk to Malinche in Mayan, and then through her speak with the Mexicans in Nahuatl.
Montezuma's Messengers
In the Isle of Sacrifices Cortes was received warmly by the people of Totonac, they had hoped that the Spanish would help them in their liberation against Mexico. The next day the Steward of Montezuma (the king of Mexico) had arrived in a parrot feather cloak resembling his high status. The Steward: Teudile, was ordered by Montezuma to feed and supply his guests, offer them precious stones, feather wear things like that. He then put a damp finger to the earth and touched his lips as a sign of respect, lit incense, and bled himself and offered his blood on straws. Cortes then introduced himself as a ambassador of a king of "a greater part of the world", Cortes then asked for Montezuma and Teudile said he would deliver a message. Cortes demonstrated his horses and guns and fired cannons and Teudile and his men fell in fear.
From Explore to conquer
Montezuma's messengers return and tell of the horrifying experience they had. Montezuma was terrified and thought Cortes was the returning Quetzalcoatl. Cortes had not yet seen the city of Tenochtitlán that was 200 miles away, knowing that he would be arrested if he returned to Cuba, his alternate was to conquer part of the land. The town of Villa Rica offered Cortes a position as captain-general, while there were some men who were still loyal to the governor of Cuba, they had planned to seize a ship and escape to Cuba but Cortes found out of their plans and sunk their ships. Cortes marched inward and met an enemy of Mexico: the Tlaxcalans. Cortes thought that maybe they would aid Cortes in a fight against the Aztecs but in short they just fought against Cortes, eventually agreeing to peace the Tlaxcalans marched with Cortes up to Cholula where a rumor saying that they were going to kill Cortes and his army spread. The Cholulan leadership and many unarmed warriors gathered in an enclosure by a great pyramid the Spanish army and the Tlaxcalans killed them.
Spaniards in Tenochtitlán
Cortes and his men were all stunned when they reached the city of Tenochtitlán, many people of the city had gathered and were astonished when they saw Cortes and his men along with their horses. When Cortes had arrived to the city Montezuma arrived in a litter draped in cotton and other fine materials, Montezuma then put a necklace of gold and other precious metals around Cortes' neck and when he tried to put a necklace of cut glass and pearls on Montezuma's neck he was held back by two lords. Montezuma continued to shower the men with gifts and kept them in sumptuous apartments. The Aztecs knew about the massacre in Cholula and thought the Spanish were dangerous.
Cortes Seizes Power
Cortes and his men continued to be amazed by the city, but were horrified at the Aztec religious rite of sacrifice. Fearing that the Aztecs were planning to kill him and his men due to being outnumbered, Cortes put Montezuma on house arrest and attempted to rule the people. Cortes had held a ceremony to formalize Montezuma's submission to the King of Spain, he then set Christian images on the pyramids and set to destroy the Mexican Idols, however Montezuma gave the idea of placing all their gods on one side and all of Cortes' on the other. Cortes was scrambling with the Aztecs and heard that there was a large Spanish force making their way to the city, he attacked at night and the men who were left over from the defeat reinforced Cortes on his way back to the city.
War Breaks Out
While Cortes was fighting, Alvarado imprisoned two important leaders and killed several others. Things really went crazy when there was a massacre at the Aztec spring festival. After a large battle the Spanish claimed that Montezuma was wounded and died of his injuries, whether he was injured or not he was taken back to his palace. The great speaker had lost his power and was no more used to the Spanish neither were the nobles. As the death of Montezuma spread the Spanish tried to leave without notice, but were caught by men surrounding them with canoes. More than 600 conquistadors were killed and many were weighed down by the gold they carried. Cortés retreated in a wide circle through the north of the valley and over the mountains back to Tlaxcala.
Fall of the Aztecs
Cortes landed south of the island and fought his way to the city, eventually the whole southern part of the island, the original city of Tenochtitlán, fell to the Spanish. About 300,000 defenders fought for 80 days. Aztec leaders gathered and decided how to surrender and what tribute to pay. Cuauhtémoc was led to Cortés.Cortes stared at him for a moment and then patted him on the head. The meaning of this apparently demeaning gesture seems to be revealed in the account of Alva Ixtlilxochitl, a descendant of one of the allied kings who fought for Cortes. Cuauhtémoc had asked Cortes to kill him, and the same day as the surrender Cortes and his men looted the city and his native allies ran wildly taking revenge on their ancient tormentors.