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Hernan Cortes was born in 1485, he was born in Medellin in the province of Extremadura, Spain. Hernan was born into a family with minor nobility. His parents were Martin Cortes de Monroy and Dona Catalina Pizarro Altamirano.
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At the age of fourteen Hernan was sent to the University of Salamanca, where he most likely studied law and Latin. Within two years, Hernando had grown tired of school and returned home to practice horsemanship, weaponry, and field sports.
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1502 the Ovana voyage started and consisted of 2500 settlers and 30 ships. The expedition reached Hispaniola and the young Hernan Cortes proved popular with his mentor Quintero and Nicolas de Ovando. Hernan proved to be an excellent soldier under the command of Spanish soldier named Diego Velazquez.
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November 1, 1504 Hernan traveled to the West Indies where Velasquez, the governor, gave him command on a fleet and sent on a voyage of discovery.
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1511 Diego Columbus, the new governor of Hispaniola, resolved to conquer the island of Cuba and selected Diego Velazquez as commander of the expedition. The expedition consisted of 4 vessels with 300 men. Hernan was chosen to accompany Velazquez on the expedition. Cuba was quickly conquered by the Spanish expedition force.
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1518 Velazquez decides to explore, and chooses Hernan to captain an expedition to establish a colony in Mexico. 1519 with a force of 600 men and, less than 20 horses Hernan sets sail for Mexico.
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1519 March, Hernan lands in Mexico. Hernan then learned about the fabulous riches of the Aztec Empire and marched troops to discover the land of the Aztecs. Hernan headed farther inland and reached the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs believed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl their light skinned, bearded God-King.
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1521 Hernan returned to Tenochtitlan with reinforcements, a plague strikes the Aztec population and falls to Hernan. Hernan conquered 5 million Aztecs with less than 1000 soldiers.
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1541, Spain feared the power that Hernan has in the New World. Hernan is denied any government post in Mexico and his reputation is smeared by rumors that he murdered his wife, Catalina Xuarez but he was given permission to fight against the Moors and the Pirates of Algiers.
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Hernan Cortez died December 2, 1547 in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Spain. Hernan died of pleurisy. Knowing that he was dying Hernan had time to make his last requests. He provided for his children, requested to be buried at the Hospital de Jesus Nazareno in Mexico City, today the oldest hospital in North America, and left money for a missionary training school and nunnery in Coyoacan. His body was later moved to Mexico a number of years later.
