Hernando Cortes, The Conqueror Mexico

Hernando Cortes, The Conqueror Mexico

With 11 boats, 110 sailors, 553 soldiers (including with just 13 handguns and 32 bows, 10 heavy cannon, 4 falconet and 16 horsetail) Hernando Cortes conquered a country with a population of 5 million people.

Cortes comes from a small noble family, he was born in 1485 in Medillin Spain. He studied law at the University of Salamanca. When he was moved nineteen, he left Spain to the American continent to change his life. He arrived in the area of ​​Hispaniola in 1504 and settled in that area and become a farmer in the size of local land owners (Don Yuan).

Visible leadership talent when he participated in the conquest of Spain against Cuba in 1511. It was coupled with the time he married the governor-in-law of the kingdom to Cuba, namely Diego Velasques after the conquest of Cuba has succeeded and he became mayor in the Santiago area.

Process Conquering Mexico

In 1518, Cortes Ve1asquez choose to captain the expedition to conquer Mexico. With 11 boats, 110 sailors, 553 soldiers (including with just 13 handguns and 32 bows, 10 heavy cannon, 4 falconet and 16 horsetail), Cortes sailed toward Mexico in February 1519. Cortes with his men landed on the edge of town that is now called Veracruz. Cortes to stay near the beach for a while, gather all the information about Mexico. Note that after sending Cortes, Velasquez misgivings about the ambitions of Cortes, he was trying to abort the mission, but too late, Cortes has departed.

From that information, he knows that Mexico at that time controlled by the people of Aztecs located in the interior. He also find out about the Aztecs, where there are deposits in the tribal expensive precious metal. Aztec also hated by other Indian tribes that were under his control which will be utilized by Cortes.

Courage Cortes to conquer Mexico is already very high, but this is different to that felt by the troops. Most soldiers feel frightened when she saw the number of enemies that very much. Seeing it Cortes decided to destroy its own fleet, so that the soldiers could not get out and go home leaving the Cortes. Ultimately selection Cortes troops there are only two, namely to go to war or exhausted killed Aztec.

When Cortes and his troops entered the inland areas, they came under fire from the Indians of the tribe Tlaxcalan. They are the Indians were free to stand alone. But after losing by Cortes in a fierce war and prolonged, these Tlaxcalan people take the decision to join the Aztecs face the Cortes who has long despised. Cortes continued movement towards Cholula, home to the Aztec ruler Montezuma II. It turned out that the Aztec people were already getting ready to make a sudden attack for Spain. But because Cortes had got first information about the activities of the Indians, and Cortes was attacking first and doing massive abattoirs to thousands of people in Cholula. After crushing it he continued toward the capital of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), and on 8 November 1519 the Cortes managed to enter and occupy the city without resistance. Aztec leader, Montezuma imprisoned, then maketh doll. Already it can be seen that the conquest seems to work already completed thoroughly.

Another attack Spanish forces and turbulence Tenochtitlan

Having succeeded in conquering the Aztecs, unexpectedly coming of the Spanish forces under the command of Panfilo de Narvaez who brought order to arrest Cortes. Cortes left part of the troops in Tenochtitlan and the rushing lead the rest of the army back to the beach to confront Narvaez. Cortes also successfully defeated Narvaez Narvaez and persuaded the remaining troops joined him.

But, by the time he returned to Tenochtitlan, there has been disagreement on the men left behind by the Aztec people. On July 30, 1520 a revolt took place in Tenochtitlan and Spanish troops suffered defeat and retreated to Tlaxcala.

Cortes could eventually additional troops and in the following May he returned to attack Tenochtitlan. The city was re-mastered Cortes on August 13th. After the occupation of Spain on Mexico arguably safe though Cortes still had to do the cleaning in areas conquered in the surrounding countryside. Tenochtitlan was rebuilt and given a new nickname "New Mexico" and became the capital of the new Spanish colony.

Secret Victory Cortes

Differences in the number of very far between forces brought Cortes with the Aztecs so is far away. But with a sniper tactics Cortes was able to defeat and ruled Mexico. Naturally the question arises, why Cortes could do?

Indeed, horses and firearms is one factor. However, calculated from the amount that is not great is not quite comparable with successful results obtained. (It should be noted, the two previous Spanish expeditions none of which managed to settle down and make a permanent conquest). Of course, leadership is inherent in Cortes, courage and steadiness determination is the main cause of success. Another factor that is no less important is his diplomatic finesse. Cortes not only avoided pushing the Indians united against him, but he managed to persuade a number of Indians joined him face the Aztecs.

Besides Cortes was also aided by fairy tales exist in the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl about. According to Indian fairy tale, this god had been taught the Indians in terms of agriculture, mining and government. Dewa was described as tall, fair-skinned and bearded. One time the gods will come back and visit again the Indians. God it went through a "sea of ​​the east" that the Gulf of Mexico. Of course Montezuma thought that perhaps Cortes was the one god back and this clearly reflected in his behavior. By itself, the reaction Montezuma face the Spanish conquistadors weak and do not have a firm stance.

End of Cortes

Cortes was a diplomat topnotch when negotiating with the Indians, but he did not always succeed in a political struggle with his opponents fellow Spaniards. King of Spain presented him the lands that made him rich and nobles made them all but shifted it from the position as Governor of Mexico.
Cortes returned to Spain in 1540 and spent the rest of his life seven years. He asks a lot of proposals to the king so pleased to restore his position as governor in "New Spain." These efforts were in vain. When Cortes close the 1547 year lifespan near Serville, Spain, he was a wealthy but plagued by various failures. Soil extensive plantations in Mexico passed on to his son.

Broadly speaking Cortes do have greedy nature and ambitions. An admirer who knew him closely described it as a cruel, arrogant, reckless, unconventional and likes mischief. But it coincided with Cortes also has an amazing character: brave, full of certainty, and intelligent. He generally pleasant disposition.

Although a firm military leader, he was not malignant without reason. Differences with the generally hated Pizarro, Cortes meeting mingle with the Indians and tried to govern their policies and not with an iron fist.