- Martín Cortés (son of doña Marina)
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Martín Cortés el Mestizo (1523? - circa 1595) was the first-born and illegitimate son of Hernán Cortés and Doña Marina (who was the conquistador’s interpreter). He is considered to be one of the first mestizos of New Spain and is known as “El Mestizo.” His exact date of birth is not precisely known.
Biography
Soon after his birth, Martín Cortés was separated from his mother and put into the care of a cousin of Hernán Cortés, Juan de Altamirano.[1]
Martín traveled with his father to Spain where he was admitted into the Order of Santiago and was a page under Philip II of Spain. In 1529, Cortés had his illegitimate children legitimated by Pope Clement VII.[2]
Martín Cortés returned to New Spain with his two half-brothers in 1563, and as his half brother was the heir to the Marquisate of the Valley of Oaxaca, he was received as would correspond to his status. Hernan Cortés's children entered Mexico City on January 17, 1563.
The New Laws of 1542 effectively impeded the inheritance of encomiendas. Martín’s younger half brother (also named Martín Cortés) led a protest against these laws known as the Conspiración de Martín Cortés. "El Mestizo" participated in the movement.[2]
The Real Hacienda denounced the acts to the Viceroy as a direct attack upon King Philip II and the conspirators were arrested. Amongst those arrested were Cortes’s three sons. Several members of the conspiracy were executed. A few days later the Viceroy Gastón de Peralta intervened directly and released Cortes’s three sons.[3]
The Real Hacienda, wanting harsher action complained directly to King Philip II of Spain and falsely accused the viceroy of subversion. The Viceroy was removed from office, tried for disloyalty, and sent back to Spain.[4]
Cortés was subjected to torture and was sentenced to indefinite exile in Spain. His torturer was reproached by King Philip II personally, sent back to Spain and found dead in his room one day after having met with the king.[4]
In 1574 the king offered condolences to the children of Hernán Cortés and they were all exonerated of any wrongdoing.[5]
"El Mestizo" married Bernardina de Porras and had one son named Hernando. He died in Spain sometime before the turn of the seventeenth century (1595 is mentioned as a possible date).[5][6]
See also
- Hernan Cortes
- Martín Cortés, 2nd Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca
References
- ^ GÓMEZ de OROZCO, op. cit., note 7, chapter X
- ^ a b Novo, Salvador (1971) Historia y leyenda de Coyoacán p.70-71 México, ed. Porrúa, ISBN 970-07-1578-7
- ^ Pereyra, Carlos (1956) Historia del pueblo mexicano vol. I, cap. XXIV "Don Martín Cortés" p.124-128
- ^ a b Pereyra, Carlos (1956) Historia del pueblo mexicano vol. I, cap. X XV "El licenciado Alonso Muñoz" p.129-131
- ^ a b Martínez, José Luis (1992) Hernán Cortés p.360-363 México, ed. Fondo de Cultura Económica, ISBN 968-16-3796-8
- ^ Meza, Otilia. (1985) La Malinche, la gran calumniada, p. 215. México, Ed. Edamex. ISBN 968-409-291-1
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