THE LIFE OF HERNANDO
CORTES
BY
N A Z M K A U R G R E WA L
hi
BIRTH
Hernando Cortes was born in 1485 (exact
date unknown) in Medellín, Spain.
Born to Catalina Pizarro Altmarino and
Martín Cortes de Monroy.
He had four sisters and no brothers.
EDUCATION
 At the age of 14, Cortes was sent to the University of
Salamanca to study law but didn’t enjoy it and failed the
course in 1501.
 Cortes heard rumors about explorers traveling to the “New
World” and was very enthralled by these stories.
 After failing his course, Cortes joined a group of trained
sailors, led by Nicolas de Ovando and Diego Velaquez
FIRST VOYAGE
In 1502, Cortes joined the Ovando voyage
to the “New World” and sailed to
Hispaniola
The Ovando voyage consisted of 2500
men and 30 ships.
SECOND VOYAGE
Cortes is made a sailor on Velazquez’s
voyage to Cuba in 1511.
• The voyage consisted of 4 vessels and 300 men.
Once they successfully reached Cuba, they
established Bayamo, Cuba (in 1513).
• Trinidad, Santo Espiritu, Puerto Principe and
Santiago, Cuba were later on founded in 1514.
THIRD VOYAGE
 In 1518, an explorer, named Juan de Grijalva, discovered
Mexico and convinced Velazquez to sail there
• Cortes was appointed as captain on Velazquez’s journey
 In 1519, they sailed to the Yucatan Peninsula and soon
discovered Tenochtitlan and Tabasco.
 In Tabasco, Cortes met a women named Malinche and
made her his mistress, guide and interpreter.
THE AZTEC EMPIRE
 Cortes established La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz in Mexico
 He meets the people there and learns about the nearby
riches, and the culture, customs and religion of the Aztec
Empire
 The Aztecs believe that Cortes is the Aztec God,
Quetzalcoal, because his arrival clashes with the predicted
arrival of the God
TORTURE
 The Aztecs treated Cortes very kindly, but the friendliness
didn’t stay for a long time
 Fearing an attack, Cortes held the Aztec King, Montezuma
II, hostage and forced him to swear an alliance with Charles V
of Spain
 Velazquez sent 1400 men to arrest Cortes since Cortes had
left to go to Mexico without him
DEATH
Cortes died at the age of 62 on December
2nd, 1547 in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Spain
 The cause of his death was pleurisy, an
infection in the lungs