Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés (c. 1485-1547), the Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Aztec Empire, governed New Spain and was made Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca.
Category: Figures
- c. 1485Hernán Cortés is born in Medellín, Extremadura
The future conqueror of the Aztec Empire is born around 1485 to a minor noble family; the exact year is uncertain, since sources give his age at death as 61 or 62. His mother is Catalina Pizarro.
- 1504Hernán Cortés sails to Hispaniola and settles at Azua
In 1504 Cortés reaches Santo Domingo, where he receives an encomienda and a post as notary in Azua. Seven years later he will join Diego Velázquez's conquest of Cuba.
- 1519Cortés founds Veracruz and takes command of the expedition on the Mexican coast
After landing near the site at Easter, on 21 or 22 April 1519, Cortés founds the town of Veracruz, the base for the expedition. The article places the founding in early June; other accounts earlier.
- February 10, 1519Hernán Cortés sails from Cuba for Mexico despite the governor's order
On 10 February 1519 Cortés leaves Cuba with an expedition to the mainland, though governor Diego Velázquez had cancelled his commission. It begins the conquest of the Aztec Empire.
- August 31, 1519 – September 1519Tlaxcala makes peace with Cortés and allies against the Mexica
After fighting that begins on 31 August 1519, the Tlaxcalans, who had cost the Spanish about a fifth of their men and half their cavalry, make peace in September. Their armies later become essential to the conquest.
- October 1519Spanish and Tlaxcalan forces massacre the people of Cholula
In October 1519 Cortés's men and their Tlaxcalan allies kill unarmed Cholulans and sack the city on the road to Tenochtitlan. The exact day is not given in the sources used.
- November 8, 1519Cortés and Moctezuma II meet as the Spanish enter Tenochtitlan
On 8 November 1519 Cortés enters the Aztec capital, a city of more than 200,000 people by most estimates, and meets Moctezuma II. The Spanish hold the ruler captive within the following weeks.
- June 30, 1520The Spanish are driven out of Tenochtitlan on the Noche Triste
On 30 June 1520 Cortés's army retreats from the city with heavy losses, estimated at about 400 to 1,000 Spaniards and many allies. Moctezuma II had died days earlier; sources disagree on who killed him.
- May 1521 – August 13, 1521Cortés besieges Tenochtitlan, which falls on 13 August 1521
The siege begins in May 1521, with sources giving 10 or 22 May. After more than 90 days the Aztec defenders surrender on 13 August and Cuauhtémoc is captured. Estimates put Aztec dead at about 200,000.
- December 30, 1521 – October 12, 1524Cortés governs New Spain as its first governor
From 30 December 1521 until 12 October 1524, according to the infobox of the source used, Cortés governs the conquered Aztec lands as the first governor of New Spain.
- 1524 – 1526Cortés leads an expedition to Honduras against Cristóbal de Olid
From 1524 to 1526 Cortés marches to Honduras against Cristóbal de Olid, who had claimed the territory, and takes Cuauhtémoc with him; Cuauhtémoc is executed on the way. The trip takes him away from Mexico for months.
- February 1525Cortés has the last Aztec rulers executed during the Honduras expedition
In February 1525, on the march to Honduras, Cortés executes Cuauhtémoc and two other former rulers of the Triple Alliance. The exact day is not given in the source used.
- May 1528Cortés returns to Spain with treasure and is honoured by Charles V
Arriving in May 1528 with treasure and 40 Aztecs, Cortés is received with honour at court and decorated with the Order of Santiago. He then pleads for confirmation of his rights in New Spain.
- 1529Cortés is named Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca
In 1529 Charles V grants Cortés the title of Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca and the style of don. The source gives no day or month.
- 1536Cortés leads his last major expedition and reaches Baja California
In 1536 Cortés explores the Pacific coast of northwestern Mexico and is credited with discovering the Baja California peninsula. In 1539 Francisco de Ulloa names the Gulf of California the 'Sea of Cortés'.
- 1541Cortés returns to Spain and joins Charles V’s expedition against Algiers
After going back to Spain in 1541, Cortés joins Charles V's naval expedition against Algiers under Andrea Doria and nearly drowns in a storm. In 1544 he seeks money owed by the crown and is ignored.
- December 2, 1547Hernán Cortés dies in Castilleja de la Cuesta
Cortés, born c. 1485 in Medellín, dies on 2 December 1547 in Spain, having been named Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca in 1529. His birth year is uncertain; the source gives his age at death as 61 or 62.