In 1541, the Spanish emperor allowed Cortes to accompany Andrea Doria and his fleet to the Barbary Coast of North Africa to Algiers in a struggle against the Ottoman Empire, which controlled the area. Already quite old, Cortes almost drowned in a storm that hit while he and his fleet where chasing the Turks. The mission was unsuccessful, and the Spanish were defeated for the second time by the Ottomans. This expedition was important because it was Cortes’ last expedition before he died in 1547. This expedition also is an example of Cortes’ strong will to keep doing expeditions, despite his old age.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Place #8: Algiers, Algeria
Place #7: Baja California, Mexico
After returning to Spain in 1528, Cortes urged the king to allow him to return to the New World. The king granted Cortes this request, but upon returning to Mexico, Cortes had significantly less power than before. In what would be his last journey in New Spain, Cortes explored and discovered the Baja California peninsula of Mexico and explored the Pacific Coast. Baja California would later be dubbed the “Sea of Cortes” in honor of him. The location of Baja California was important because the trip resulted in great discovery about the western side of Mexico, and it was what would be Cortes’ last expedition in the New World.
Place #6: Honduras
After receiving the awards and becoming governor of New Spain, Cortes led an expedition into Honduras in 1524. Rebel conquistador Cristobal de Olid had claimed Honduras for several years, all the time in an underground alliance with Cuban governor, Diego Velazquez. Infuriated, Cortes set out to Honduras to claim the area for New Spain. While in Honduras, Cortes hanged a feared rebel and issued for the arrest of Diego Velazquez, the treasonous governor of Cuba who had participated with Olid in the control of Honduras. However, the Spanish monarchy did not respond, and instead became more concerned with the amount of power that Cortes exhibited. Thus, in 1528, Cortes lost his governorship and returned to Spain. Honduras was important because it was there that Cortes misused his power as governor, which lost him the position.
Place #5: Hispaniola/Cuba
After conquering the Aztecs, Cortes was well received and became somewhat of a war hero. Returning to Hispaniola and Cuba after his conquest, Cortes received an encomienda (a medal of honor) and was awarded the Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca for his success. In 1523, he was also appointed the governor of New Spain, which now comprised of large parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The islands of Hispaniola and Cuba were important places because they marked the beginning of Cortes’ great power in New Spain, a power that he would possess for several years to come.
Place #4: Tenochtitlan (Aztec Capital), Mexico
On November 8th, 1519, Cortes and his 400-strong army arrived in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. At first the king, Montezuma, was very hospitable to the Spaniards. But realizing them as a threat to his power, he drove them out of the capital in June of 1520. But after allying with the natives and setting up, Cortes captured the capital in summer of 1521. Tenochtitlan was important in the life of Hernan Cortes because is was the site of the triumph that made him famous, the conquest of the Aztec civilization. It would also be an important city in New Spain because a new city-“Mexico City”- would be built on the old city’s ruins.
Place #3: Vera Cruz, Mexico
In 1519, after talking to the natives, Cortes founded the town of Vera Cruz on the Mexican coast where their ships were parked. Cortes founded the town so that he would have a stronghold to retreat to in the fight against Montezuma for the control of the Aztec empire. Before setting off to conquer the empire, Cortes burned all of his ships at Vera Cruz, leaving the army with only one choice: to conquer. And conquer they did. But shortly after Cortes and his army set off from Vera Cruz, some of Montezuma’s generals burned the town. This location of Vera Cruz was important because it was Cortes’ stronghold during the conquest of the Aztecs.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Place #2: Tabasco River, Mexico
In 1519 Cortes took an army of 600-700 men to the coast of Mexico. He arrived in March of 1519, whereupon he and his men sailed up the Tabasco River and all the way up to the town of Tabasco. He then went to San Juan de Ulloa and visited with some native chiefs to learn about the empire of Montezuma and the Aztecs. He wished to visit the Aztec capital city, but the Emperor Montezuma did not want him to. Instead, Montezuma sent Cortes many presents, but Cortes still wanted to go to the city anyway. The Tabasco River location is important because it was the place where Cortes prepared for the conquering of the Aztec civilization.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Place #1: Spain
Hernan Cortes was born in Medellin, Spain in 1485. Cortes studied law in Spain before deciding to seek adventure in the New World. Cortes left Spain in the early 1500s and returned and left numerous times until finally coming back permanently in 1540, where he died seven years later at the age of 62. Spain was important in the life of Cortes because it was a crucial jumping-off point of his many explorations as well as a place where he gathered many of his supplies and men for the jobs. It was also his place of origin and the culture that shaped many aspects of his explorations, such as his aggressive conquering and the religion (Christianity) that was so prevelent at the time.
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