Hernando Cortés (1485-1547)
Cortés was a Spanish conquistador (soldier and explorer) who conquered the vast Aztec empire in central America.
Hernán (or Hernando) Cortés was born in 1485 in Medellín, western Spain. He initially studied law but left university to make his fortune in the Americas.
In 1504 he sailed for Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), moving to Cuba in 1511 where he assisted Diego Velázquez in his conquest of the island and made his reputation for courage and daring. more...
