The Life Of Hernando Cortes
Hernando Cortes was born in 1485 in a town called Medellin in Extremadura Spain. During the time of Cortes' youth, the town of his birth was "like the setting of a carnival for a growing boy" (Marks 3). Medellin was the home of an old castle from the days of the wars between the Spanish and the Moors; the young boys of the town found this castle most entertaining. Later in his life Cortes started attending the University of Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain. His law school years were cut short in 1501 when he decided to try his luck in the New World. In the spring of 1504, Cortes set sail for the land of Cuba. After arriving in Cuba in 1511, he joined the Spanish soldiers and Administrator Diego Velasquez in the conquest of the land, and there he became mayor of Santiago de Cuba. In 1518 he persuaded Velasquez to give him command to the expedition of Mexico that had recently been discovered by Juan de Grijalva, nephew of Velasquez. Despite Velasquez's cancellation on his payment to Cortes due to suspicion that he was exploring and discovering for his own glory, Cortes set sail west from Cuba on February 19, 1519. Cortes took with him about 600 men, less than 20 horses, and 10 field pieces. Cortes sailed along the east coast of
Cortes took some time to reorganize in Tlaxcala, and then he began his march back to the Aztec capital. In 1536 Cortes began exploring the Baja peninsula in California, but his plea to continue exploring was denied. Cortes and his men quickly found a better harbor spot a little North of San Juan, this spot would be named La Villa Rica De La Vera Cruz, or The Rich Village Of The Vera Cruz. Richard Lee Marks did a great job of giving his audience a detailed biography of the man Cortes was, and the things he will be remembered for. Using some strategic thinking, Cortes quickly eliminated some of his less trustworthy men, for fear that they would rise up against his personal crusade in Mexico. Shortly after eliminating these men, Cortes began his historic march to inner Mexico. Cortes took every Aztec village on his way back to the capital, making a Spanish stronghold out of each one of them. Cortes: The Great Adventurer and the Fate of Aztec Mexico. The book includes a complete bibliography, table of contents, and an index, all of which aided greatly in the overall readability of the text. Cortes quickly returned to his camp in the capital city, and joined Alvarado in his battle. Marks made it clear that in his eyes, Cortes was not the looting, plundering murderer that historians make him out to be, he was merely a man with an enormous desire to explore and discover. In 1526 Cortes began his expedition to Honduras; however, his new expedition was cut short when the Spanish rule finally decided to start investigating Cortes' practices in the new world. In order to keep himself and his troops safe, Cortes took Montezuma hostage and demanded a hefty ransom of gold and jewel's. Marina quickly became Cortes' lover and out of loyalty to him also served as his interpreter, Translator, Guide, and Counselor. Not getting the same interest from Cortes, Montezuma stayed peaceful, was determined to wait on the Spanish, and to find out more about their purpose in Mexico.
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