Hernán CortésHernán CortésBy:By:

Ana Manuel CanoAna Manuel Cano&&

Sara Pérez GarcíaSara Pérez García

Hernán CortésHernán Cortés Spanish conqueror of Mexico Spanish conqueror of Mexico

(Medellín, Badajoz, 1485 - (Medellín, Badajoz, 1485 - Castilleja de la Cuesta, Sevilla, Castilleja de la Cuesta, Sevilla, 1547).Coming from a family of 1547).Coming from a family of nobles of Extremadura, Hernán nobles of Extremadura, Hernán Cortés studied briefly at the Cortés studied briefly at the University of Salamanca. In University of Salamanca. In 1504 went to India recently 1504 went to India recently discovered by Columbus and discovered by Columbus and was established as a clerk and was established as a clerk and landed in the Spanish (Santo landed in the Spanish (Santo Domingo). Participated in the Domingo). Participated in the expedition to Cuba in 1511 as expedition to Cuba in 1511 as secretary to the governor, secretary to the governor, Diego Velasquez, who became Diego Velasquez, who became related by marriage to his sister related by marriage to his sister and who appointed him mayor and who appointed him mayor of the new city of Santiago. of the new city of Santiago.

Hernán CortésHernán Cortés In 1518 Diego Velazquez In 1518 Diego Velazquez

gave to Hernán gave to Hernán CortésCortés the the command of an expedition command of an expedition to Yucatan, but the governor to Yucatan, but the governor was suspicious of Cortés, was suspicious of Cortés, who had once imprisoned on who had once imprisoned on charges of conspiracy, and charges of conspiracy, and decided to relieve him of the decided to relieve him of the order before leaving. Cortés order before leaving. Cortés warned accelerated the warned accelerated the departure and went to sea departure and went to sea before receiving the before receiving the notification (1519). notification (1519).

Hernán CortésHernán Cortés With eleven ships, With eleven ships,

about six hundred men, about six hundred men, 16 horses and 14 16 horses and 14 pieces of artillery, pieces of artillery, Hernan Cortes sailed Hernan Cortes sailed from Santiago to from Santiago to Cozumel and Tabasco, Cozumel and Tabasco, where he defeated the where he defeated the Maya and other gifts he Maya and other gifts he received, the Indian Mrs received, the Indian Mrs Marina, which will serve Marina, which will serve as mistress adviser and as mistress adviser and interpreter during the interpreter during the entire campaign. entire campaign.

Hernán CortésHernán Cortés Disobeying express Disobeying express

orders of Governor orders of Governor Velázquez, founded on Velázquez, founded on the coast of the Gulf of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the city of Villa Mexico, the city of Villa Rica de la Rica de la Veracruz. There he Veracruz. There he learned of the learned of the existence of the Aztec existence of the Aztec empire in the interior, empire in the interior, whose capital is said to whose capital is said to be kept great treasures, be kept great treasures, and hastened to his and hastened to his conquest.conquest.

Hernán CortésHernán Cortés To avoid the temptation to return that To avoid the temptation to return that

threatened many of his men to the obvious threatened many of his men to the obvious outnumbered their ships sank Hernan Cortes outnumbered their ships sank Hernan Cortes in Veracruz. He managed the alliance of some in Veracruz. He managed the alliance of some indigenous peoples subjected to the Aztecs, indigenous peoples subjected to the Aztecs, like the Toltecs and Tlaxcala. Cholula Sack, like the Toltecs and Tlaxcala. Cholula Sack, reached the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, where reached the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, where he was received peacefully by the Emperor he was received peacefully by the Emperor Moctezuma, who declared himself a vassal of Moctezuma, who declared himself a vassal of the King of Castile. The possible identification the King of Castile. The possible identification of the Spanish with divine beings and Cortez of the Spanish with divine beings and Cortez with the announced return of the god with the announced return of the god Quetzalcoatl favored perhaps this host to Quetzalcoatl favored perhaps this host to some foreigners who immediately began to some foreigners who immediately began to behave as invaders ambitious and violent. behave as invaders ambitious and violent.

Route of CortésRoute of Cortés

Shield of Hernán Cortés

Hernán CortésHernán Cortés

Then he had to leave the city to his deputy Then he had to leave the city to his deputy Alvarado, to meet the troops of Panfilo de Alvarado, to meet the troops of Panfilo de Narvaez, sent by the governor Velázquez to Narvaez, sent by the governor Velázquez to punish their rebellion and return to Cuba, punish their rebellion and return to Cuba, Cortes defeated Cempoala and managed to Cortes defeated Cempoala and managed to join him most part of the quota (1520). When join him most part of the quota (1520). When he returned to Tenochtitlán, he found a large he returned to Tenochtitlán, he found a large Indian agitation against the Spanish because Indian agitation against the Spanish because of the attacks their beliefs and religious of the attacks their beliefs and religious symbols and the killing of his nobles by symbols and the killing of his nobles by Alvarado to thwart an alleged conspiracy. He Alvarado to thwart an alleged conspiracy. He Montezuma prisoner and tried to mediate it to Montezuma prisoner and tried to mediate it to calm his people, without achieving anything calm his people, without achieving anything other than the emperor's death. other than the emperor's death.

THE ENDTHE END