Hernan Cortes

Birth

Jan 1, 1485

Cortés was born in 1485 in the town of Medellín, Spain in modern day Extremadura to a family of lesser nobility( lower high class).
** it is unknown for the exact day **

School

Nov 14, 1499

At the age of 14, Cortés was sent to study at the University of Salamanca in west-central Spain. This was Spain's great center of learning, and while accounts vary as to the nature of Cortés's studies, his later writings and actions suggest he studied Law and probably Latin.

Return home from School

Nov 14, 1501

After two years, Cortés, tired of schooling, returned home to Medellín, much to the irritation of his parents, who had hoped to see him equipped for a profitable legal career. However, those two years at Salamanca, plus his long period of training and experience as a notary, first in Seville and later in Hispaniola, would give him a close acquaintance with the legal codes of Castile that helped him to justify his unauthorized conquest of Mexico.

Conquer Cuba

Feb 13, 1511

In 1511, Cortés accompanied Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, an aide of the Governor of Hispaniola, in his expedition to conquer Cuba.

Setting out

Aug 18, 1518

18th of November 1518, he set out from Santiago with 10 vessels, 600 or 700 Spaniards, 18 horsemen and some pieces of cannon.

Moving Fast

Dec 14, 1518

Cortés was appointed Captain-General of this new expedition in October 1518, but was advised to move fast before Velázquez changed his mind. With Cortés’experience as an administrator, knowledge gained from many failed expeditions, and his impeccable rhetoric he was able to gather six ships and 300 men, within a month. Predictably, Velázquez’s jealousy exploded and decided to place the leadership of the expedition in other hands. However, Cortés quickly gathered more men and ships in other Cuban

Landing on Mexico

Mar 1, 1519

March 1519 he landed on the coast of Mexico. Advancing along the gulf, sometimes taking measures to conciliate the natives, and sometimes spreading terror by his arms, he took possession of the town of Tobasco.

Cortes as Governor of Conquered Territory

Aug 17, 1519

King Charles I of Spain, who had become Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1519, appointed Cortés as governor, captain general and chief justice of the newly conquered territory

Battle

Jul 7, 1520

Cortes gave the signal for battle, and, on the 7th of July 1520, gained a victory which decided the fate of Mexico.

Second Battle

Aug 13, 1521

He proceeded to Tlaxcala, assembled an auxiliary army of natives, subjected the neighboring provinces, and then marched a second time against Mexico, which, after a gallant defense of several months, was retaken on the 13th of August 1521.

Mexico City

Aug 13, 1521

on 13 August 1521, the Aztec Empire disappeared, and Cortés was able to claim it for Spain, thus renaming the city Mexico City. From 1521 to 1524, Cortés personally governed Mexico.

Divorced

Nov 14, 1522

He divorced Catalina Xuarez Marcaida in 1522.

Retuen to Spain

Nov 14, 1528

In 1528, Cortés returned to Spain to appeal to the justice of his master.

Re-Married

Mar 5, 1529

Hernan Cortes Married Juana Ramirez de Arellano de Zuniga who had four children.

Return to Mexico

Nov 14, 1530

Cortes returned to Mexico in 1530 with new titles and honors, but with diminished power.

Discovery

Oct 17, 1536

in 1536, he discovered the peninsula of Baja California, and surveyed a part of the gulf which separates it from Mexico.

Second Return to Spain

Nov 14, 1541

After his exploration of Baja California, Cortés returned to Spain in 1541, hoping to confound his angry civilians, who had brought many lawsuits against him

Death

Dec 2, 1547

Having spent a great deal of his own money to finance expeditions, he was now heavily in debt. In February 1544 he made a claim on the royal treasury, but was given a royal runaround for the next three years. Disgusted, he decided to return to Mexico in 1547. When he reached Seville, he was stricken with dysentery. He died in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Seville province, on December 2, 1547, from a case of pleurisy at the age of 62.