Hernán Cortés

Lore & Background

Cortés was born around 1485 in Medellín, Spain, to a family of lesser nobility. He was pale and sickly as a child. At age 14, he was sent to study Latin under an uncle in Salamanca, later returning home after two years, disappointing his parents who had hoped for a legal career. He finally left for Hispaniola in 1504, where he became a colonist, received an encomienda, and served as a notary. He later accompanied Diego Velázquez in the conquest of Cuba and became secretary for Governor Velázquez, twice serving as municipal magistrate of Santiago.

In 1519, Cortés was elected captain of the third expedition to the mainland, which he partly funded. His enmity with Governor Velázquez resulted in a recall order, which Cortés ignored. Arriving on the continent, he allied with some indigenous people against others and used a native woman, Doña Marina, as an interpreter; she later gave birth to his first son. When the governor sent emissaries to arrest him, Cortés fought and won, using the extra troops as reinforcements. He wrote directly to the king asking to be acknowledged for his successes rather than punished for mutiny.

After overthrowing the Aztec Empire, Cortés was awarded the title of marqués del Valle de Oaxaca, while the more prestigious title of viceroy was given to Antonio de Mendoza. In 1541, Cortés returned to Spain, where he died six years later of natural causes.

Reader's Guide

Cortés's significance lies in his role as the leader of the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire, a pivotal event in the early phase of Spanish colonization of the Americas. His actions, including ignoring the recall order from Governor Velázquez and writing directly to the king, illustrate the tensions between conquistadors and colonial authorities. His use of alliances with indigenous groups and an interpreter, Doña Marina, were key to his military success. The legacy of Cortés is complex: he is remembered as a skilled commander and writer, but his conquest brought profound changes to the indigenous societies of Mexico. The title he received, marqués del Valle de Oaxaca, was less prestigious than the viceroyalty given to a high-ranking nobleman, reflecting the crown's cautious approach to rewarding unauthorized conquest. His physical appearance, described by Bernal Díaz del Castillo, and the shift in spelling of his name from 'Hernando' to 'Hernán' in the 20th century, are part of his historical record.

Did You Know?

• Cortés always referred to himself as Hernando Cortés in his known writings.
• He was a distant relation to Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of the Inca Empire, through his mother's side.
• Bernal Díaz del Castillo described Cortés as having a face that was 'somewhat grey, not very cheerful' and a beard that was 'black and sparse'.
• Cortés's first son was born to Doña Marina, the native woman who served as his interpreter.