Profile of the Day: Hernán Cortés
Are you related to a Spanish conquistador? On this day in 1519, explorer Hernán Cortés established a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico.
Born around 1485 in Medellín, Spain to a family of nobility, Cortés chose to pursue a livelihood in the New World.
In 1519, Cortés led an expedition to Mexico against the orders of Hispaniola Governor Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. By April of that year, he had settled Veracruz and set his sights on conquering the Aztec capital of Tenochitilán. Although the Aztecs were able to drive the Spanish out, Cortés eventually returned and took the capital in 1521.
Today Cortés is not only credited with causing the fall of the Aztec Empire, but also noted for bringing large portions of mainland Mexico under Spanish rule.
Did you know Cortés second cousin was Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incan Empire?
Hernán Cortés is connected to over 90 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. Explore the family tree to see how you’re related!
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