Reception of Cortez by Montezuma, 1519

Cortez and his men kneeling before Montezuma, who stands in attitude of benediction. Hernan Cortes de Monroy y Pizarro (1485-1547) was born at Medellin into minor nobility, and after studying at Salamanca chose to look for his fortune in Hispaniola and later Cuba. In 1519, against the orders of the Governor, he led an expedition to the mainland. There he overwhelmed the Aztec Empire, subjugating the populace and claiming most of Mexico for the King of Castille. Moctezuma II (1466 - June 29, 1520) was the 9th tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlan (1502-20). The first contact between indigenous civilizations of Mesoamerica and Europeans took place during his reign, and he was killed when Cortés and his men fought to escape from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.

1519 • AMERICA CENTRAL • ARRODILLADO • ARTE • AZTEC • CEREMONIAL • CIVILIZACIÓN AZTECA • COLONIAL • COLONIALISMO • COLONIZADOR • CONQUISTA • CONQUISTADOR • CORTES • DESCUBRIDOR • DIBUJO • ESPANOL • EUROPEO • EXPEDICION • EXPLORACION • EXPLORADOR • FAMOSO • FIGURA • FUNDADOR • GENTE • HISTORIA • HISTORICO • HOMBRE • HOMBRES • ILUSTRACION • IMPORTANTE • LITOGRAFIA • MASCULINO • MESOAMERICA • MEXICO • MOTECUHZOMA XOCOYOTZIN • OBRA DE ARTE • PERSONA • PERSONALIDAD • PERSONALIDADES • REAL (REALEZA) • RECORTES • RETRATO DE HOMBRE • S. XVI • SIGLO XVI • TENOCHTITLAN