The Legend of Hernando Cortes
May 31, 2012
You're probably here due to your craving of chocolate and not a craving of famous explorers. But sometimes you have to go down a new path to get where you're going.
Have you ever considered what a certain Hernando Cortes contributed? As an explorer, he is considered to be one of the most influential people of his time.
Hernando Cortes was born to Martin Cortes de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano in Spain in the year of 1485. His father was a dominant figure in the military. In fact, he was an infantry captain. Moreover, he is closely related to Francisco Pizarro, the Great Peruvian conqueror.
Hernando began his university studies when he was just fourteen years of age at the University of Salamanca located in Spain. He was at school for two years before he returned back home to Medellin.
Teeming with curiosity, he was ready to embark on an adventure and make his way in the world. In the year of 1518, Cortes was given the go-signal to lead the exploration of inner Mexico for the coming colonization of the Spanish crown. But at the eleventh hour, he no longer had the permit to sail to Mexico. He disobeyed a direct order and sailed anyway. He commandeered eleven ships, five hundred sailors, thirteen horses and myriads of cannons.
Hernando arrived at a Mayan-controlled territory located in the Yucatan Peninsula. In March of 1519, he was able to conquer the land for the Spanish empire. As he made further explorations, he hired more and more soldiers and acquired more horses for their expedition. He even won an epic battle against the Native Americans who were situated in the area of Tabasco.
By July of the same year, he successfully put Veracruz under his command. He was able to enter Cholula (the second largest city of central Mexico) by October. He killed thousands of Mexicans and burned the city down.
The next opposition Cortes faced was Pánfilo de Narváez, who was sent to Mexico by Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, the governor of Cuba, to stop Cortes. Cortes was able to hold his ground and was able to convince some of Narváez's men to join his cause.
And, oh, the part you were waiting for... Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro (often referred to as Hernan Cortez) returned to Spain in 1528 bearing the Aztec recipe for xocoatl (chocolate drink). That makes him all the more legendary!
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