The Despatches of Hernando Cortes

The Despatches of Hernando Cortés is a remarkable collection of letters written by Hernando Cortés to King Charles V of Spain, providing a firsthand account of the Spanish expedition that led to the conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early sixteenth century. These historical documents chronicle Cortés's journey through Mexico, his encounters with Indigenous peoples, and the dramatic events surrounding the capture of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. Written to inform and justify his actions to the Spanish Crown, the letters describe military campaigns, diplomatic negotiations, exploration, and the extraordinary wealth and complexity of the civilizations Cortés encountered. They also reveal the ambitions, strategies, and challenges that shaped one of the most significant episodes in the history of the Americas.