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[[Image:Hernan Cortes by Clemente Orozco.jpg|right|Hernan Cortes seen by José Clemente Orozco]]

[[Image:Hernan Cortes by Clemente Orozco.jpg|right|Hernan Cortes seen by José Clemente Orozco]]

'''Hernando Cortés''' (Medellin, [[Spain]], 1485 - Castilla de la Cuesta, Spain, 1547) was a Spanish [[Conquistador]].  He is famous for his brutal conquest of the [[Aztecs]]. In February 1519, Cortés departed for the new world. His mission: to bring [[Catholicism]] to the 'uncivilized' nations of the new world, his banners read "Brothers and companions, let us follow the Sign of the Cross with true faith and in it we shall conquer." All the equipment he had was 11 ships, 508 Spanish soldiers, 100 sailors, 16 horses (unknown to the New World), and 4 small cannons.  

'''Hernando Cortés''' (Medellin, [[Spain]], 1485 - Castilla de la Cuesta, Spain, 1547) was a Spanish [[Conquistador]].  He is famous for his conquest of the [[Aztecs]] allying himself with the Indigenous groups that were Aztec's victims of human sacrifices, a practice that stopped after their defeat. In February 1519, Cortés departed for the new world. His mission: to bring [[Catholicism]] to the [[pagan]] nations of the new world, his banners read "Brothers and companions, let us follow the Sign of the Cross with true faith and in it we shall conquer." All the equipment he had was 11 ships, 508 Spanish soldiers, 100 sailors, 16 horses (unknown to the New World), and 4 small cannons.  

The journey to the new world lasted over two months, and the Spanish commander and his soldiers finally set foot in the new world on Good Friday of that year. The day was the 22nd of April, in the year of Our Lord 1519. To the Aztecs it was the year 1- Reed, the day 9-Wind. Supposedly, in Aztec religious tradition, on this day their chief god, Quetzalcoatl, had been predicted to return to conquer the evil spirits who had expelled him from that land. The prediction of the returning god was that he would come  wearing black, and armored in shining plates of steel. Ironically, the Spaniards came dressed in all black, as was the ancient European custom on Good Friday, and the Spanish military was always armed with steel or brass armor.     

The journey to the new world lasted over two months, and the Spanish commander and his soldiers finally set foot in the new world on Good Friday of that year. The day was the 22nd of April, in the year of Our Lord 1519. To the Aztecs it was the year 1- Reed, the day 9-Wind. Supposedly, in Aztec religious tradition, on this day their chief god, Quetzalcoatl, had been predicted to return to conquer the evil spirits who had expelled him from that land. The prediction of the returning god was that he would come  wearing black, and armored in shining plates of steel. Ironically, the Spaniards came dressed in all black, as was the ancient European custom on Good Friday, and the Spanish military was always armed with steel or brass armor.     

As 1519 came to a close, Cortés took a small band of men to address another Spanish commander threatening to attack him. He won an easy victory, but the garrison he had left at Tenochtitlan was besieged by the Aztecs. Cortés returned to the Aztec capital, and took charge of his small force. On June 25, 1520, Cortés led an assault on the Aztec temple. His men fought their way up the 114 steps to the top and victory was his. During the fight [[Montezuma]] was killed. The Aztecs selected [[Cuauhtemoc]] as the new Emperor. However, Cortés' men were too weary to continue fighting, and could not follow up the win. Their food was short so he retreated. But they were attacked again at the plains of Otumba, a small plain outside Tlaxcala. Outnumbered once more, the weary Spanish managed one more miraculous victory. They spent the remainder of the year in Tlaxcala recovering.  

As 1519 came to a close, Cortés took a small band of men to address another Spanish commander threatening to attack him. He won an easy victory, but the garrison he had left at Tenochtitlan was besieged by the Aztecs. Cortés returned to the Aztec capital, and took charge of his small force. On June 25, 1520, Cortés led an assault on the Aztec temple. His men fought their way up the 114 steps to the top and victory was his. During the fight [[Montezuma]] was killed. The Aztecs selected [[Cuauhtemoc]] as the new Emperor. However, Cortés' men were too weary to continue fighting, and could not follow up the win. Their food was short so he retreated. But they were attacked again at the plains of Otumba, a small plain outside Tlaxcala. Outnumbered once more, the weary Spanish managed one more miraculous victory. They spent the remainder of the year in Tlaxcala recovering.  

The following May Cortes began to march on Tenochtitlan. On May 13, 1521, the siege of the city began. This began 93 days of constant warfare; during the day the Spanish would gain ground, during the night they would lose it. Finally, in August, the Spaniards began to hold the ground they were capturing. The Aztec defenders started to run low on food and water. Then on August 13, 1521, Cortes led an assault on the temple of the Aztec gods. The Spaniards fought their way to the top. At the peak, they erected the Cross. Once more they fought their way down, but this time victory was theirs for good. During the battle the Spanish had captured Cuauhtemoc, and the war was over. The Spaniards had won.  

The following May Cortes began to march on Tenochtitlan. On May 13, 1521, the siege of the city began. This began 93 days of constant warfare; during the day the Spanish would gain ground, during the night they would lose it. Finally, in August, the Spaniards began to hold the ground they were capturing. The Aztec defenders started to run low on food and water. Then on August 13, 1521, Cortés led an assault on the temple of the Aztec gods. The Spaniards fought their way to the top. At the peak, they erected the Cross. Once more they fought their way down, but this time victory was theirs for good. During the battle the Spanish had captured Cuauhtemoc, and the war was over. The Spaniards had won.  

While some people regard Cortes as a man on a mission to bring [[Christianity]] to the Americas, history generally records him as a gold-hungry bandit who used military might in search of wealth.

While some people regard Cortes as a man on a mission to bring [[Christianity]] to the Americas, the black legend against Spain falsely records him as a "gold-hungry bandit" who used military might in search of "wealth".

== See also ==

== See also ==