• Hernán Cortés was a 16th century Spanish conquistador who started the conquest of the Aztec civilization.

• 1. Full name: Hernándo Cortés de Monroy Pizarro
  2. Born: 1485
  3. Birthplace: Medellín, Extremadura, Spain
  4. Studied law at the University of Salamanca
  5. Served under the Governor of Cuba
  6. Conquered 5 million Aztecs with less than 1000 soldiers
  7. Founded La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, known today as Veracruz
  8. Allegedly mistaken for Aztec god Quetzalcoatl
  9. Died: December 2, 1547
  10. Related to Francisco Pizarro who conquered the Incas

• Timeline

  1. 1503: First arrives in the "New World" from Spain
  2. 1510: Joins an expedition to conquer Cuba, soon appointed mayor of Santiago
  3. 1519: Commands expedition to interior of Mexico
  4. 1521: Captures Aztec leader Cuauhtemoc
  5. 1521-1524: Self-governs Mexico
  6. 1528: Returns to Spain where he was awarded the noble title "Marquis of the Oaxaca Valley"
  7. 1530: Returns to Mexico
  8. 1547: Dies in Seville, Spain

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