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Essay on Hernando Cortez's conquest of the Aztec Nation
Hernando Cortez was born in Medllin in 1485. All though his parents were just commoners, Hernando was going for something bigger. At the age of 14, Hernando started to study Latin in the University of Salamanca. But after a few years, he decided to abandon student life. When he was 18, he sailed on a ship to Santo Domingo. There, he befriended Diego Velazquez, the governor of the island with his cunning jokes and ambitious personality. After a little while, Velazquez made him a minor officer. But, when Velazquez hired him to be the leader of an expedition, he became afraid of what would happen if Hernando took over the expedition and tried to dismiss him not only of being the commander of the voyage, but also being an officer. Hearing of the news, Hernando ran away.
Then, Hernando's life as an explorer began. During his conquest for the Aztec empire, Hernando met Malintzin, a fair Aztec woman, who was of royal blood. She not only became Hernando's translator, but his Mistress as well. Although they did not have any children, they lived happily together. In 1540, after Hernando was finished exploring, he went back to Spain and settled down. This was after he conquered the Aztec empire, where he mined, farmed and explored. Because of that, he was now the richest man in Spanish America. He died peacefully on December 2, 1547 near Seville of old age.
The mainland had been discovered the year before by the Spanish soldier and explorer Francisco Fernandez de Cordoba and subsequently by Juan de Grijalva, nephew of Vel zquez. On February 19, 1519, Cortez, with a force of some 600 men, fewer than 20 horses, and 10 field pieces, set sail from Cuba, despite the cancellation of his commission by Vel zquez, who had become suspicious that Cortez, once in a position to establish himself independently, would refuse to recognize his authority......
