Hernan+Cortes

=Hernan Cortestoc= Hernan Cortes was a Spanish explorer that had passion for discovering. He was known for establishing a town in Mexico named La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, for conquering the Aztec Empire, and for discovering Baja, in California. He lived for 63 years, but that was pretty long for people back then; he had many riches and a lot of power.

Early Life
Hernan Cortes was born in 1485 in Medellin, Eztremadura, Spain. He was the son of Martin Cortes de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano. Cortes attended the University of Salamanca in 1499, but dropped out of it, in 1501, because he failed at law. In 1502, he heard stories about the New World, and joined the expedition to the West Indies.

Expeditions
Cortes went to several different places, such as Cuba, Mexico, and the Aztec Empire. He also discovered Baja, California. He gained a lot of power and wealth, and that is what Spain feared the most....

Expedition to Cuba
The expedition reached Hispaniola, and he was proved popular. In 1511, he was chosen to go on an expedition to Cuba, and Cuba surrendered to the Spanish force. In 1514, he settled on an island of Cuba to become a ranch owner. IN 1518, Velazquez, his captain, decided to explore further, and chose Cortes to become captain of the expedition to establish a colony in Mexico.

Expedition to Mexico[[image:http://www.semar.gob.mx/Velero/baltico_2007/img/mexico_1.jpg width="283" height="196" align="right"]]
In March of 1519, Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico and took over the town of Tabasco, where he met a woman named Malinche, who becomes his mistress, guide, and interpreter. He established the town of La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz; then burnt his ships to make sure that no one deserted or retreated the land.

Expedition to the Aztec Empire
Hernan Cortes learned about the riches of the Aztec Empire, then went there to discover its riches for himself. He made an alliance with the Aztec Indians, and learned about their customs, culture, and religion. He learned about the 'Winged God- feathered Serpent', who was light skinned, bearded God-King of civilization; who was worshipped by the Aztecs like the Christians worship Jesus Christ. The day Cortes arrived, was the day that was profitized that the 'God' was to return; so they thought he was the god. In November or 1519, the Aztec King didn't stop Cortes's force from entering Tenochtitlan, the Aztec Capital, that was very rich. Cortez established headquarters inside Tenochtitlan. To make sure he kept his position, he took the Aztec King hostage, and forced him to swear allegiance to King Charles V of Spain. Valasquez sent soldiers to arrest Cortes, so Cortes decided to march to the coast to do battle with the soldiers, but instead, persuaded them to join him. In 1520, Cortes was attacked by Aztec warriors on his return to Tenochtitlan. He tried to calm them by giving back their King, but the Aztecs stoned their King. In 1520, Cortes was forced out of Tenochtitlan.

Return to Tenochtitlin
In 1521, Cortes returned to Tenochtitlin with reinforcements. I August of 1521, a plague striked the Aztec population, and Tenchtitlin came into Cortes's rule. He conquered 5 million Aztecs with less than 1,000 soldiers.

Return to Spain and the New World
In 1528, Cortes returned to Spain and was given the title "Marques del Valle de Oaxaca". In 1530, Cortes returned to the New World and settled in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In 1533, he made a final expedition and discovered Baja in California; he explored California for a year, before he returned to Mexico. In 1540, Cortes returned to Spain for the last time. In 1541, Spain feared the power that Cortes had in the New World; he was denied in any government post in Mexico, and his reputation was marked with rumors that he murdered Catalina Xuarez, his wife, but was given permission to fight against the Moors and the Pirates of Algiers. Hernan Cortes died on December 2, 1547, near Seville.

Hernan Cortes was a fearless leader who had a passion for discovering many lands that wouldn't have been found for a long time if it weren't for him. And if he didn't defeat the Aztecs, then, who knows... maybe they would still be around....But Cortes was very greedy too. He took every piece of gold that he could find in the Aztecs. But the world has never known an explorer who didn't care about the money.

Picture References

 * http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/c/fotos/cortes.jpg

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/04/93004-004-E7FAA8B0.jpg

http://www.semar.gob.mx/Velero/baltico_2007/img/mexico_1.jpg**