Cortés :: History

Corts Corts, Hernn or Cortez, Hernando (1485-1547), Spanish explorer and conqueror of the Aztec pudding stone of Mexico. Corts was born in Medelln, Extremadura. He studied law at the University of Salamanca, but cut short his university career in 1501 and decided to study his fortune in the New World. He weather sheeted for Santo Domingo in the spring of 1504. In 1511 he joined the Spanish soldier and administrator Diego Velzquez in the success of Cuba, and subsequently became alcalde (mayor) of Santiago de Cuba. In 1518 he persuaded Velzquez, who had beco1me governor of Cuba, to give him the teaching of an expedition to Mexico. The mainland had been discovered the year before by the Spanish soldier and explorer Francisco Fernndez de Crdoba and subsequently by Juan de Grijalva, nephew of Velzquez. On February 19, 1519, Corts, with a labor of some 600 men, fewer than 20 horses, and 10 field pieces, set sail from Cuba, despite the cancellation of his commission by Velzquez, who h ad become suspicious that Corts, once in a position to establish himself independently, would refuse to recognize his authority. Corts sailed on the coast of Yucatn 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 Corts larn of the Aztec Empire and its ruler, Montezuma II. Corts took numerous captives, one of whom, Malinche (baptized Marina), became his mistress out of devotion 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). Corts organized an independent government, and renouncing the authority of Velzquez, acknowledged completely the supreme authority of the Spanish crown. In order to prevent those of his scurvy force who opposed this movement from desertin g him and carrying the news to Cuba, Corts destroyed his fleet. after(prenominal) negotiations with Montezuma, who tried to persuade Corts not to enter the capital urban center of Tenochtitln, Corts started his famous march inland. He overcame the native Tlascalans and then organize an alliance with them against the Aztecs, their enemies. From that time until the conquest was achieved, the Tlascalans continued to be the most historic of all the native allies of the Spaniards.