Facts about Hernando Cortes |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 16 | Hernando Cortes was a strong commander. He established the town of La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz and to prevent the possibility of desertion or retreat he literally burnt all of his boats
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 17 | He learns about the fabulous wealth of the Aztec Empire and vows to conquer them
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 18 | Hernando Cortes first forces an alliance with the Aztec Indians of Tlaxcala. He then learns about their customs, culture and religion | | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 19 | During this period he learns about and Aztec legend. In the myth Quetzalcoatl the 'Winged God is a light skinned, bearded God-King of Civilisation and learning who was revered by the Aztecs
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 20 | The arrival of the Spanish soldiers coincides with the predicted return of the God-King Quetzalcoatl | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 21 | He reaches the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs believe that Cortes could be Quetzalcoatl their light skinned, bearded God-King. | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 22 | In November 1519 he meets the King of the Aztecs - Montezuma II | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 23 | Montezuma II allows Cortes and his small force to enter Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, which houses thousands of Aztec Indians.
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 24 | He takes Montezuma as hostage and forces him to swear allegiance to King Charles V of Spain | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 25 | During this time period Diego Velasquez had sent 1,400 soldiers to arrest Cortes. | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 26 | He decides to march to the coast to do battle with the soldiers but instead he persuades them to join him. Whilst he is away his soldiers kill 600 Aztec nobles | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 27 | He then tries to calm the Aztecs by releasing Montezuma | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 28 | The Aztecs stone Montezuma to death on July 1, 1520 and Hernando Cortes and his soldiers are forced out of Tenochtitlan | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 29 | In 1521 he returns to Tenochtitlan with reinforcements. | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 30 | 1521 August 13, 1521: A terrible Plague strikes the Aztec population and Tenochtitlan falls to Cortes. | |
| Hernando Cortes Fact 31 | Hernando Cortes conquered 5 Million Aztecs with less than 1000 soldiers and returns to Spain triumph. He then returns to Mexico
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 32 | In 1533 he makes his final expedition and discovers Baja in California which he explores for a year before returning to Mexico
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 33 | He returns home to Spain 1540
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 34 | His reputation is smeared by rumors that he murdered his wife, and the Spanish who were wary of the power he held in Mexico refused him permission to return to the New World.
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 35 | He was given permission to fight against the Moors and the pirates of Algiers and this is how he spent the last years of his life
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| Hernando Cortes Fact 36 | Hernando Cortes died on December 2, 1547 near Seville. A wealthy but embittered man. | |
Facts about Hernando Cortes for Kids |
