Hernán Cortés was a distant relative of Francisco Pizarro

Cortés had conquering desires in his blood! One of the interesting facts about Hernán Cortés is that he was a distant relative of Francisco Pizarro through his mother, Catalina Pizarro y Altamirano. Pizarro was the conqueror of Peru who defeated the Inca Empire. Conquistadors examine their two distant relatives' lives, the empires they conquered, and their legacies. Along with photographs of significant people, places, and events, you will learn about Cortés and Pizarro in ways you have never known before.

Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro were Spanish explorers who sailed to the Americas and made numerous interesting voyages. They both encountered unique challenges and difficulties along the way. Cortés and Pizarro gained allies to assist them on their expeditions during their difficulties. Both Cortez and Pizarro were ruthless conquerors of vast territories.

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who grew up in a noble family. He set out for Hispaniola in 1504, but ended up in Cuba in 1511. Cortes persuaded the Cuban government to allow him to lead and command an expedition to Mexico. He then founded Veracruz and was appointed official General.

Pizarro, who was born into a poor family in Trujillo, Spain, chose to seek fortune and adventure in the New World. He went to the Gulf of Urabá and accompanied Vasco Nez de Balboa on his crossing of the Panama Isthmus, becoming the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. For a few years, he was mayor of newly founded Panama City, and he led two failed expeditions to Peru. Pizarro obtained permission from the Spanish crown to lead his third and most successful expedition to conquer Peru in 1529.