Hernán Cortés, conqueror of the Aztec Empire

One of the greatest conquerors of all times, Don Hernán Cortés never received military education. He was educated to be a lawyer.

The only son of a Spanish Hidalgo (nobleman), he moved to Hispaniola and Cuba (1514), where he was appointed a notary. Against the strict orders of the Governor, he organized an expedition to the unknown territories of current Mexico.

Arriving on the continent, Cortés executed a successful strategy of allying with some indigenous peoples against others. He also used a native woman, Doña Marina, as an interpreter; she would later bear Cortés a son.

When the Governor of Cuba sent emissaries to arrest Cortés, he fought them and won, using the extra troops as reinforcements. Cortés wrote letters directly to the king asking to be acknowledged for his successes instead of punished for mutiny.

After he overthrew the Aztec Empire, Cortés was awarded the title of Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca. He went on to discover and explore the territory of California.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hernán Cortés
• Conquistador
• Spanish Empire
• Aztec Empire
• Aztecs
• Tenochtitlán