Letters of Hernan Cortes to Emperor Charles V (#1)

Letters of Hernan Cortes to Emperor Charles V (Volume 1)
Edited by John Greenway

These five letters by the Spanish Conqueror Hernando Cortes were written to the Emperor Charles V of Spain between the years 1519 and 1526. They describe the earliest discoveries of the mainland, the perilous trek into hostile country, the capture of the Aztec capital, the extension of Cortes power throughout Mexico, the expedition to Honduras, and the organization and ordering of the Spanish empire in the new world.

The Conquest of New Spain

The Conquest of New Spain 
by Bernal Diaz del Castillo

 "The History of the Conquest of New Spain is a subject in which great interest is felt at the present day, and the English public will hail these memoirs, which contain the only true and complete account of that important transaction. The author of this original and charming production, to which he justly gives the title of 'The True History of the Conquest of New Spain,' was himself one of the Conquistadores; one who not only witnessed the transactions which he relates, but who also performed a glorious part in them; a soldier who, for impartiality and veracity, perhaps never had his equal. His account is acknowledged to be the only one on which we can place reliance, and it has been the magazine from which the most eloquent of the Spanish writers on the same subject, as well as those of other countries, have borrowed their best materials. Some historians have even transcribed whole pages, but have not had sufficient honesty to acknowledge it. The author, while living, was never rewarded for the great services he had rendered his country, and it is remarkable that, after his death, his very memoirs were pillaged by court historians, to raise a literary monument to themselves."

Cortés

Cortés
by William Weber Johnson


The book Corte’s by William Weber Johnson is a book about the character Captain Hernan Cortes who was born in Spain and lived from 1485-1547. He was the heroic explorer who helped conquer the little country of Mexico from it tyrannical Aztec leaders. As the book explains Cortés from an early age was an enterprising boy eager for exploration power and adventure, so it was no surprise when during his conquests convinced the Cuban governor into assisting him with troops to lead the expedition to Mexico in 1519. As mentioned, Mexico was being governed by Montezuma II, emperor of Aztec. After his arrival, Cortes soon learned of the Aztecs and began to make his way to Tenochtitlan, the capital city where he met with various tribes that war at war with the Aztecs and helped him conquer them.

 In November of 1519, Corte’s cleverly took hostage of Montezuma the Aztec emperor knowing full well that if he did not have any leverage against them, they would soon try to kill him. He wasn’t successful because they managed to drive him out of the city but once he had regrouped, Corte’s manages to capture the Mexican city and overthrow the Montezuma regime. After his conquest, Cortes did not return home but instead remained in Mexico City and began to rebuild it on the Aztec ruins. He then invited Europeans to come and settle there. Due to his many his conquests and battles, Cortes acquired a lot of gold and jewels which made him very wealthy and popular back home in Spain. He was therefore appointed governor and captain of New Spain (Mexico).

 Cortes was still interested in exploring, therefore in 1524, he advanced into present day Honduras where he settled for two years but by this time the Spanish government was getting wary of Cortes’ numerous conquests and decided to deport him back home to Spain. He later convinced the Spanish monarchy and they allowed him to return back to South America but with fewer privileges. In 1536, Cortés was clearly bored so he spent his last days exploring Baja Californian peninsula and the Pacific coast of Mexico before returning back to Mexico. Cortes later died in 1547. The narrative of Cortés, Montezuma, and the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire has been chronicled several times, and with explanation, since it is one of the primary events in world history. There are most likely no new facts left to uncover on the conquest, but it is a thrilling, intensely moving, and tremendous story well worth retelling. Johnson is not an acclaimed historian, but he is a well equipped writer who knows the facts, and clever enough is to let the excitement and drama of the saga to unfold by itself. At the epicenter of the narrative is clearly the two protagonists Cortes and Montezuma.

 Cortés is depicted as an enthralling combination of tireless ambition, religious fidelity, and amazing tenderness. Montezuma, also very religious, was less a proactive leader than Cortés, and his introspective nature probably warranted his doom. As Johnson illustrates, this was also an earth shattering clash of civilizations that is still evolving centuries later. This is an amazing work of popular history, perfectly designed for general readers. In this literary piece of writing generally Johnson has greatly used factual research. In fact he recommends several other sources, a number of which are out of print. The book is not revisionist; rather it seems to provide a balanced and non biased opining on Spanish and Aztecan beliefs, practices and cultures. The attention to detail is impeccable, with the provision of a narrative which flows well and is interesting. The book is not ones stereotypically boring history piece but instead a broad, descriptive analysis of Mexican history and how they acquired their independence. This book effectively transports the reader from the former Empirical regime of Montezuma II to the Spanish regime that still stands to date.

Much like Christopher Columbus, Cortés character is still subjected to public scrutiny and criticism simply because it is difficult to establish whether he was truly a hero or an antagonist. According to Johnson’s book, Cortes id viewed as a man who travelled around the globe in search of weak, undemocratic colonies to conquer, he went about his business not mindful of the natives’ cultural practices and beliefs. Although Cortes brought freedom to the Mexican state, his methods of liberation are still questioned. The book generally demands that a reader reads it first then establishes an opinion for him or her self.

 Although this book is generally for people looking to delve into the historical past of Mexico, it also appeals to those with a genuine interest in world history and enlightens the mind on global occurrences that are not often discussed. This book is adequate for analytical readers and scholars alike in perfectly illustrating how a man with twisted interests manages to conquer a territory, leaving tracks of emancipated but socially, politically and economical distraught people. This man overthrows a regime and forces his native political structures and religious views of a people. In this day an age we can draw examples of leaders with misguided interests but still a noble and worthy cause regarding their people from this book. As much as Corte’s went about operating with impunity, brutality and neglect, he was much more interested in bringing down an imperial government that did not put the wills and needs of its citizens as a priority. He did assist Mexico in attaining independence but not without a price i.e. Spanish rule. In general it is safe to say that all interpretations and judgments are left to the reader as he is after all the beneficiary of the historical piece.

Night of Sorrows

Night of Sorrows
by Frances Sherwood

 Night of Sorrows plunges readers into the conflicting New Worlds of the mysterious Malintzín, born as an Aztec princess and sold as a slave, and her dashing and ruthless lover-master, conquistador Hernán Cortés. As they march through the Empire of the Sun to the shimmering island metropolis, Tenochtítlan (Mexico City), Cortés advances his cause by winning friends through Machiavellian conniving and confronting enemies in merciless battle. We witness the volatile dynamics and multifarious intrigues of the commander and his temperamental compadres, and weather the heartbreaking inner odyssey of Malintzín. Set at the twilight of the Aztec empire—April 1519 through the night of sorrows, la noche triste, June 30, 1520—Night of Sorrows explores the nature of slavery and imperialism, prostitution, friendship, feminine identity, and the macho ideal. Combining historical and fictional characters, Frances Sherwood's new novel is the story of a spectacular clash of traditions, imbued with her characteristic humor and bringing to life the colors, smells, and sounds of Mexico.

Conquistador

Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs 
by Buddy Levy


The saga of Cortés, Montezuma, and the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire has been chronicled repeatedly, and with justification, since it is one of the seminal events in world history. There is probably no new information on the conquest left to uncover, but it is a thrilling, moving, and tragic story well worth retelling. Levy is not a professional historian, but he is a fine writer who knows the material, and he is wise enough to allow the pure excitement and drama of the story to unfold naturally. At the center of the tale, of course, are the two protagonists. Cortés is viewed as an intriguing combination of ruthless ambition, religious piety, and surprising tenderness. Montezuma, also deeply religious, was less a man of action than Cortés, and his contemplative nature probably sealed his doom. As Levy illustrates, this was also an earthshaking clash of civilizations that is still working itself out five centuries later.

A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies

A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies
by Bartolomé de las Casas

An account written by the Spanish Dominican friar Bartolomé de las Casas in 1542 (published in 1552) about the mistreatment of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas in colonial times and sent to then Prince Philip II of Spain.

One of the stated purposes for writing the account is his fear of Spain coming under divine punishment and his concern for the souls of the Native Peoples. The account is one of the first attempts by a Spanish writer of the colonial era to depict examples of unfair treatment that indigenous people endured in the early stages of the Spanish conquest of the Greater Antilles, particularly the island of La Hispaniola.

Las Casas's point of view can be described as being heavily against some of the Spanish methods of colonization, which, as he describes, have inflicted a great loss on the indigenous occupants of the islands. His account is largely responsible for the passage of the new Spanish colonial laws known as the New Laws of 1542, which abolished native slavery for the first time in European colonial history and led to the Valladolid debate. The images described by Las Casas were later depicted by Theodore de Bry in copper plate engravings that helped expand the Black Legend against Spain.

History of the Conquest of Mexico

History of the Conquest of Mexico
by William H. Prescott

"It is a magnificent epic," said William H. Prescott after the publication of History of the Conquest of Mexico in 1843. Since then, his sweeping account of Cortés's subjugation of the Aztec people has endured as a landmark work of scholarship and dramatic storytelling. This pioneering study presents a compelling view of the clash of civilizations that reverberates in Latin America to this day.

"Regarded simply from the standpoint of literary criticism, the Conquest of Mexico is Prescott's masterpiece," judged his biographer Harry Thurston Peck. "More than that, it is one of the most brilliant examples which the English language possesses of literary art applied to historical narration. . . . Here, as nowhere else, has Prescott succeeded in delineating character. All the chief actors of his great historic drama not only live and breathe, but they are as distinctly differentiated as they must have been in life. Cortés and his lieutenants are persons whom we actually come to know in the pages of Pres-cott. . . . Over against these brilliant figures stands the melancholy form of Montezuma, around whom, even from the first, one feels gathering the darkness of his coming fate. He reminds one of some hero of Greek tragedy, doomed to destruction and intensely conscious of it, yet striving in vain against the decree of an inexorable des- tiny. . . . [Prescott] transmuted the acquisitions of laborious research into an enduring monument of pure literature."