HernAn CortEs or Hernando Cortez[kOrtez´, Span. ArnAn´, ArnAn´dO kOrtAs´] Pronunciation Key - Expedition to Mexico
CortEs went (1504) first to Hispaniola and later (1511) accompanied Diego de VelAzquez to Cuba. In 1518 he was chosen to lead an expedition to Mexico. Although VelAzquez later sought to recall his commission, CortEs sailed in Feb., 1519. In YucatAn he rescued a Spaniard who had learned the Mayan language; after a victory over the native people of Tabasco, CortEs acquired the services of a female slave Malinche : baptized Marina : who knew both Maya and Aztec. Having proceeded up the coast, CortEs founded Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz and was chosen captain general by the cabildo; thus he discarded VelAzquez's authority and became responsible only to Charles V.
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