Hernando Cortes

From a small royalty, Heniando Cortes was born in 1485 in Medellin, Spain. What's so special? He was the conqueror of Mexico. In his youth this will be the conqueror of study at the University of Salamanca in the science of law. At the age of nineteen years he left Spain for the fate of profit on the continent west of there that had just discovered. Year 1504 he arrived in Hispaniola,
where he settled as a farmer, respected and "Don Yuan" local measures. Year 1511 he participated in the Spanish conquest of Cuba. After this adventure, he married with the royal governor-in-law to Cuba, Diego Velasquez and the appointed mayor of Santiago.

Year 1518 Ve1asquez choose a captain Cortes expedition into Mexico. The governor, wary of ambition Cortes immediately cancel orders, but the move was too late to stop the Cortes. With 11 ships, 110 sailors, 553 soldiers (including the only handheld firearm 13 and 32 bows, 10 heavy guns, 4 light cannons and 16 horses), Cortes set sail in February 1519. The expedition landed on Friday at the crucifixion anniversary of the Prophet Jesus in the suburbs are now called Veracruz. Cortes dwells near the coast for a while, gather all the information about Mexican affairs. He may know, the people who ruled Mexico Aztec had a large capital is landlocked, no expensive precious metal deposits, and hated by the Indian tribes other under his control.

Cortes who already have a unanimous decision to the interior, moving forward to occupy the Aztec territory. Some soldiers facing mortal fear so much the number of opponents to be faced. Seeing that it was not profitable, before moving Cortes expedition that destroyed the fleet of the soldiers had no choice, forward or cleared out dead Indian.

Once mengambah inland, Spain faced staunch resistance Tlaxcalan Indian tribes, Indian tribes are free to stand alone. But after the men were defeated by Spain in a fierce gunfire and lasting, Tlaxcalan people make decisions to join the Cortes against the hated Aztecs. Cortes continued movement toward Cholula, the dwelling place of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II, who was getting ready with a plan to confront Spanish incursion. But since Cortes had earlier information about Indian intentions were, he gempur first and do a massive slaughter of thousands of people in Cholula. After crushing that he continued toward the capital of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), and on 8 November 1519 entered and occupied the city without resistance. Moctezuma imprisoned, then dijadikannya doll. From this angle seems to work already completed the conquest of it completely.

However, other Spanish troops under the command of Panfilo de Narvaez landed with a orders arrest Cortes. Cortes left some troops in Tenochtitlan and led the rest of the army rushed back to the beach. Here he can tear apart the army and persuaded Narvaez left merge with. However, when he could return to Tenochtitlan, the men who left against the Aztec people are too limited. On July 30, 1520 uprising exploded in Tenochtitlan and the Spanish troops suffered a heavy defeat retreated to Tlaxcala. However, Cortes can get additional troops in May and the next he attacked Tenochtitlan again. Terebut city fell on August 13. After the Spanish occupation of Mexico is safe, although arguably Cortes still have to do the cleaning in the areas conquered in the surrounding countryside. Tenochtitlan rebuilt and given a new nickname "New Mexico" and became the capital of the new Spanish colony.

Considering how small the forces that brought Cortes when the expedition began, conquest of a country with a population of five million truly an achievement of military victory is remarkable. The only conquest of the land so large a population is made up of Peru Francisco Pizarro. Already the plural when people wonder how and why can Cortes succeeded. Indeed, horses and firearms he owned a causative factor. However, calculated from the amount that is not big enough is not comparable to that obtained successful results. (Please note, two previous Spanish expeditions none of them managed to settle down and make a permanent conquest). Of course, leadership is inherent in self-Cortes, courage and consistency determination is the main cause of success. Another factor is no less important is the skill of diplomacy. Cortes not only avoid encouraging the Indians united against him, but he managed to persuade a number of Indian people to join him against the Aztecs.

Cortes is also assisted by the Aztec myth of the god Quetzalcoatl. According to Indian myth, this god has issued orders to the Indians in agriculture, mining and government. The god was a big tall, white-skinned and thick beard. After promising to visit again the Indians, he went through the "east sea" of the Gulf of Mexico. Make this Moctezuma lest Cortes was the god who came back and was clearly reflected in his behavior. By itself, a reaction against colonial Spain Montezuma weak and had no firm position.

The last factor is the determination of success Spanish religion. For us, of course, the invasion of Cortes could not a single act of aggression is no excuse. One indecency without adab. Instead Cortes. He thought and believed what he was doing was morally justified. He can say and do is so solemnly told his soldiers that they would win because they were on the right side and because they fought under the banner of the Cross. Cortes motivation is sincere and innocent. Not once or twice risked his expedition to the success of risk a dangerous experiment without the cost-benefit calculation to convert the Indians.

Despite excellent Cortes as a diplomat to negotiate with Indians, he did not always succeed in a political struggle with his opponents fellow Spanish. King of Spain presented the lands that made him rich and lifted so noble but moved it from the position as Governor of Mexico. Cortes returned to Spain in 1540 and spent the remaining seven years of age submit proposals to the king that the king restore acceptable position in the "New Spain." These efforts futile. When Cortes closed 1547 near ditahun age Serville, Spain, he was a wealthy but overwhelmed with the various failures. Large plantation land in Mexico passed on to his son.

Cortes had a disposition that greedy and ambitious, is not a secret anymore. An admirer who knew him closely described as a cruel, arrogant, bungling, unconventional and likes to make trouble. But along with that Cortes had a marvelous nature: brave, full of certainty, and intelligent. Her character is generally pleasant. Despite a strong military leader, he was not violent for no reason. Unlike the generally despised Pizarro, Cortes associate meetings with the Indians and try to govern them with policy and not with an iron hand. Cortes-faced, handsome and charming, just always be a corner of the eye glance inceran women.

Cortes said in his will that he was not sure whether an action is justified to enslave the Indians. This made him difficult questions and asked her to consider this matter carefully. In its time, this kind of attitude teramatlah rare. People could not imagine going to be Francisco Pizarro (or Christopher Columbus) take care of problems like this. As a result, people have the impression that Cortes was the most civilized of all the conquerors (Conquistador) Spain.

Cortes and Pizarro was born in the town who disagree fifty miles and just a ten-year dispute. The success of both (which seems to have a family relationship) of each impressive.

Both are essentially conquered the area the size of a continent, and both drove the influence of language, religion, culture. Almost in all regions conquered, its political power to this day remains in the grasp of European descent.

Combined with the influence of Cortes Pizarro slightly bigger than Simon Bolivar. They turned their conquest of political power in South America from the hands of the Indians into the hands of the Europeans. While Bolivar was successful conquest of political power shifted from the hands of Spain into the hands of European descent who was born in South America.

Cortes wanted to place higher in the order of this book lists than Pizarro because conquest come first and give inspiration to Pizarro. Also, the Indians perlawann not yet stopped when Pizarro died while Cortes conquered practically completely Mexican. However, in my opinion such things were a little off balance with other considerations. Spanish conquest of passion and excess weapons is clearly a threat both for the Aztec and Inca. Peru, which is shielded by the mountains have much chance to survive to keep its independence. Pizarro and the courage of successful attacks has changed the course of history within the meaning of truth.

However, the Aztec empire as it is not mountainous Peru. And besides, the Mexican border (unlike Peru) in the Atlantic Ocean, because it was easier Spanish troops. That is why, looking conquest of Mexico by the Spanish is much more possible and easier. But, of course Cortes courage and great leadership to help accelerate the process of conquest. Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.