Cortes of Mexico Author:Ronald Syme Every now and then in the course of history there appears a man who stands out sharply above his contemporaries for his courage, persistence, and strength. Such a man was Hernando Cortes, conqueror of Mexico. From the time he left his native Spain at nineteen in the year 1504 to sail for the New World, his adventurous spirit never flagged. — Af... more »ter five years in Hispaniola, Cortes set ail for the uncharted mainland. After a grueling march over the mountains and a victory over a hitherto unconquered tribe, he and his men reached the fair valley of Mexico and finally the city of Mexico itself, scene of the most advanced civilization north of Peru. The Spaniards were well received by the resplendent Emperor Montezuma, who took them for the descendants of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. But his subjects revolted, killed their emperor by a tragic accident, and drove the strangers from their city. After a raging battle, Cortes and his men at last defeated the Aztecs and returned to Mexico City as conquerors.« less