biography
| name: |
Cortés, Hernán
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| |
also spelled Cortéz
|
pronunciation:
[kaw(r)tez], Span [kawr
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1485–1547)
|
| biography:
| The conqueror of Mexico, born in Medellín, W Spain. He studied at Salamanca, then accompanied Velázquez in his expedition to Cuba (1511). In 1519 he commanded an expedition against Mexico, fighting his first battle at Tabasco. He founded Vera Cruz, marched to Tlaxcala, and made allies of the natives. He then marched on the Aztec capital, capturing the king, Montezuma; but the Mexicans rose, and Cortés was forced to flee. He then launched a successful siege of the capital, which fell in 1521. He was formally appointed governor and captain-general of New Spain in 1522, but his authority was later superseded. He spent the years 1530–40 in Mexico, then returned to Spain. |
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