Hernando+Cortez

 Hernando Cortes

Hernando Cortes was a Spanish explorer. He was a very wise, but ruthless man, (at least that is what the historians would say). He was best known for finding Mexico and conquering the Aztec Empire.

 Cortes was born in 1485 in the Kingdom of Castle in the city of Mellendin. He was from an upper class family but his family was not rich. As the only son in the family, Cortes was sickly as a child.When he was 14 he was sent to the University Of Salamanca to study law. He was not happy at law school. He did not like it because he couldn’t stand not being able to move around and he couldn’t follow the rules. Cortes did learn a tiny bit of Latin, and he became a good writer.

His first expedition was in 1511. He united with Diego de Velsquez in conquest of Cuba. Later in 1518 Velsquez gave Cortes permission to lead a large expedition to the Yucanta Peninsula. Francisco Frenandez De Cordoba and Juan De Grijalava had recently undertaken voyages westward from Cuba to the Yucatan coast and explored up north to return to Santiago with reports of an advanced Indian civilization, money and gold.

In the year of 1519 Cortes landed on the coast of the Yucatan and he made settlement in Veracruz and lead a Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. November 1519 the Aztec leaders were seeking a nice way to rid themselves of the Spanish threat. But the large quantities of gold sent to the invaders as gifts only encouraged the Spaniards in there campaign of conquest. Cortes and his men entered Technochtitlan on November 8, 1519. He was greeted by the Aztec emperor, Montezuma. Things went badly in that region and Cortes eventually took over the Aztecs.

On October 15, 1522 Cortes was named Captain General of New Spain. Cortez has had a long life. He was a ruthless man and he had no heart. He would attack aztecs, now don't you think he is ruthless. Sadly he died in 1547 at the age of 62 years old. He will always be remembered for conquering the aztec empire.  By,  Caroline  <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">