-
Hernan Cortes was born in Spain.
-
Hernan was sent away to get a higher education. Historians believe he studied Latin and law.
-
Hernan decided to sail to the New World and make a life for himself there. He sailed to what is now Haiti.
-
Cortes worked with the governor of Hispaniola, who took Cortes on a conquest of Cuba. Cortes was rewarded with land and slaves
-
Diego Valasquez became the governor of Cuba. He made Cortes one of his top officials.
-
Diego Valasquez named Cortes the captain of an expedition to Mexico. After a fight, though, he revoked Cortes' status.
-
Cortes went against Valasquez's wishes and sailed on to Mexico against orders.
-
Cortes sailed into Veracruz and took it by force. He tried to meet with Montezuma, the Aztec king, but Montezuma refused.
-
The Aztec people tried to appease Cortes by giving him gold and other treasures. Cortes didn't trust the people, though, and he took Montezuma hostage.
-
With the conquest of the land, King Charles V of Spain named Cortes the governor of New Spain.
-
Valasquez sent men to go to war with Cortes in Mexico. Cortes' men came out the winners.
-
When Montezuma couldn't get the Aztecs to accept Cortes as their leader, Cortes had Montezuma killed.
-
With Montezuma dead, Cortes took over the Aztec's capital city. It was the end of the Aztec Empire.
-
Cortes worked to develop farms throughout New Spain, or Mexico. He also helped spread Christianity.
-
The king of Spain sent other rulers to New Spain to aid Cortes. When they became sick, others accused Cortes of poisoning them.
-
Cortes had to return to Spain to prove his innocence to the King.
-
Cortes was freed from the charges and returned to Mexico, although the king had demoted him from governor.
-
Hernan Cortes died at the age of 62. In his later life he was mostly ignored and barely respected. He left a legacy of a great explorer, but also of a man full of greed.