Hernan Cortes

For Spaniards such as Hernan Cortes, who could claim a degree of noble blood but lacked secure wealth and prestige, participating in the conquest of the New World offered an opportunity for riches and advancement. Cortes came to Hispaniola (present-day island home of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in 1504 and served in the conquest of Cuba in 1511. By 1518 the Spanish had sent two expeditions to Yucatan, on the mainland of Mexico, bringing back mixed reports of riches and rumors of an advanced empire.

In 1519, Cortes was chosen to lead another expedition to the mainland, though he was given permission only to pursue limited trade and exploration. Through shrewd and ruthless maneuvering, Cortes disobeyed the orders of his superiors in the New World, instead appealing directly to King Charles V in Spain for authorization of his actual goal: marching inland to...