Hernán Cortés

Hernán Cortes was a Spanish conquistador of humble beginnings born near Sevilla. His parents prioritized values such as honor and respect, and the promising young Hernán was sent to study in Salamanca at 14. Inspired by Columbus' voyages, he traversed the Pacific Ocean, helping to conquer Cuba in 1511. There, Cortes proved a great leader and eventually mustered together a group of soldiers to settle the mainland in search of glory and riches.

He landed on the Yucatán in 1519 and burned his own boats so as to discipline his young soldiers. With his 508 soldiers, Cortes built up alliances with indigenous tribes along the coast. Though he also made some enemies, the army he was able to field would be no match for any defending Aztecs, the ultimate goal of the conquest.

The plight of the Aztecs came as Cortes successfully seized the Aztec leader, Moctezuma, forcing the people's hand. As this was happening in the Americas, public opinion began to turn on Cortes back home in Spain.

Cortes addressed this with a series of five letters written to Spanish king Charles V, detailing his encounter with the Aztecs. These masterfully crafted letters were regarded as some of the most convincing documents of all time, though even after returning to Spain and pleading his case in person, Cortes was subject to a life of financial ruin and unrelenting controversy.