Hernan Cortes

Birth

1485

Hernan Cortes was born sometime in the year 1485. His birthplace is Medellín, which is in the Estremadura province of Spain. His mother was Catalina Pizarro Altamirano, and his father was Martin Cortés de Monroy.

Potetial Voyage

1499

While Cortes went to college in 1499, he heard tales of finding silver and gold. After two years of college, he dropped out and signed up for his first voyage. The potential first voyage of his life was with the explorer, Nicolás de Ovando, but he had a serious accidental injury. He nearly broke his because he was buried underneath debris after a fall.

First Voyage

Period: 1504 to 1511

His actual first voyage was to sail to Santo Domingo, Hispaniola, which was led by Diégo Velasquez. In 1504, he wanted to do this again because of the money from silver and gold they might find. The voyage started in 1511, and before he left he promised Catalina Suarez, that he would marry her.

The Aztecs

1519

Cortes was also governor-general of New Spain of the Ocean. While in this term he started the building of Mexico city in 1519. Francisco Pizarro had teamed up with Hernan Cortes to wipe out the Aztecs. Once the Aztecs were gone, Hernan Cortes started building Mexico City.

Yutacon

1519

In 1519, set sail for Yutacon, on February eight-teenth. He had sixteen horses, 503 soldiers, and 100 sailors. He also later was taught some facts by Indians from Tobasco.

Tobasco

1519

When he landed in Tobasco and gained the trust of the Indians in March 1519. The natives of Tobasco had given him presents which consisted of twenty people, a mistress, an interpreter, and a son. He left Tobasco with the gifts that the native Indians and headed towards southeastern Mexico.

Honduras

1521

In the year 1521, Hernan Cortes was seeking more adventure after he defeated the Aztecs. While on his expedition he wanted more wealth, and land. During this mission to get more money and land, he sent another ship to what is now the Honduras.

Voyage

1523

In the year of 1523, Hernan Cortes became captain-general and governor of New Spain. Five years after that, the New Spaniards feared that he had too much power. The king of New Spain was later replaced as captain-general and forced to return to Spain. Later in the year, he had the title of “Marques del Valle de Oaxaca.”

Mexico

1530

In 1530 Hernan Cortes returned to Mexico. When he came back his titles were not as powerful as they were at first. When he left for Mexico, he did have the name of military authority, so he could still go on voyages.

Death

Dec 2, 1547

December 2, 1547, Hernan Cortes died at age sixty-two. Before his death, he was in debt because he had to start to pay for his own expeditions. He then returned to Mexico before his death, once he got there, he died of pleurisy on the site of Castilleja de la Cuesta, Seville province.