European People

European People

People or groups of people named in the historic sources with European ancestry, but who were not part of the Cortes Expedition. To see people who were specifically on the visit the Cortes Expedition page.

Listed by first or only name, then last.

6 Men (Gom says 7) from Garay Ships – One a notary (Gom).

  • 4 (Diaz) 3 (Gom)  First Men (Notary< ?, ?)
  • Guillen de la Loa – Notary with Alonso Alvarez de Pinedo group.
  • Andres Nuñes – Boatbuilder with the Alonso Alvarez de Pinedo group.
  • “Master” Pedro – Harpist with the Alonso Alvarez group.
  • 4th Alonso Alvarez Man – Diaz cannot remember his name.
  • 2 (Diaz) 3 (Gom) Men from Skiff (2 arquebusiers, 1 Indian, one maybe a Pilot, as well)

10 soldiers – Came with Capt. Saucedo.

Alonso Alvarez de Pineda/o – Spanish Captain from another expedition. Had a settlement at mouth of river Panuco. Sent by Francisco de Garay, Gov. of Jamaica.

Alonso de Escalante – Royal Notary who witnessed Velasquez-Cortes agreement on Oct 23, 1518.

Alonso Peñate

Alonso de Hermosa – Martin’s commander in the army.

Alonso Quintero – Captain with whom Cortes crosses the Atlantic first. Twice he left the rest of the fleet to profit. He’s from Palos de Mogeur.

Amador de Larez – Sent by Velazquez to talk Cortes out of expedition.

Andres de Duero – Trader who dealt with Cortes. Also lent him $4k pesos for the Expedition (Gom p. 21).

Antonios Velazquez – Pressured Cortes to marry Catalina.

Antonio de santa Clara – Merchant who invested $4k pesos in the Cortes Expedition (Gom p. 21).

Baltazar Bermudez – Sued Cortes for backing out of marriage to Catalina. Backed out of expedition to Mexico for financial reasons.

Cristobal de Lagos – Guard who let Cortes escape from jail (Gom, p. 12)

Cristobal Zarza – steersman on Cortes ship to Americas.

Cristobal Zorza – Sighted land on Cortes trip to Indies (Mac p. 10)

Cristobal de Quesada – Havana Bishop’s tithe collector.

Catalina Xuarez – Cortes first wife in Cuba.

Cristobal Morante – Fitted out ships that discovered the Yucatan in 1517.

Diego de Orellana – Reported Cortes missing to Velazquez, but found them together.

Diego Sanz – Shopkeeper, maybe in Santo Domingo. (Gom p. 19)

Diego Velazquez – Governor of Cuba – Not on journey. (There is some allegiance to him from men in the expedition). Was very tight with Cortes at first.

Dona Catalina Pizzaro Altamirano – Cortes’ mother.

Francisco de Garay – Part of Saucedo group? Four ships. Diaz says Garay is Gov of Jamaica and was in Jamaica at this time.

Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba – Discovered the Yucatan in 1517.

Francisco Nino de Huelva – Pilot for Cortes ship to the Americas. Became lost after Quintero left fleet.

Francisco Nunez de Valera – Grammar instructor in Salamanca (Gom). Macnutt says aunt’s husband whom Cortes stayed with while attending U of Salamanca.

Francisco de Saucedo – de Salcedo (gom) – Captain from Cuba sent by Diego Velazquez. Arrived at Vera Cruz. Brought a horse (Diaz). Gomara says he brought 60 men, 9 horses.

Garnica – Brought note to Cortes from Velzaquez (Gom p. 22).

Gonzalo Guerrero – Spaniard gone native who did not return to Cortes. Possibly father of first Mestizos.

Ines de Paz – Cortes aunt and wife to Grammar instructor in Salamanca.

Jeronymite Fathers – Governors who issued a license to Cortes to trade, collect Royal Fifth.

  • Fray Luis de Figueroa
  • Fray Alonso de Santo Domingo
  • Fray Bernardino de Manzanedo

Juan Escudero – Constable in Santiago de Cuba, who picked up Cortes after sanctuary.

Juan de Grijalba – Spanish explorer. Did a coastal exploration of Mexico.

Juan de Saucedo – GRIJ

Juan Xuarez – Brother-in-law of Velazquez. Had three or four sisters.

Luis Marin – Arrived with Saucedo from Cuba. Brought a horse (mare)

Marie de Esteban – Cortes infant wet nurse. She drew saints names and prayed to St Peter, who became Cortes patron, Gomara says. She is credited with saving the sickly infant Cortes.

Martin Cortes de Monroy – Cortes’ father.

Medina – Secretary to Ovando in Hispaniola.Advised Cortes to become a Citizen and get his plot of land. COrtes was there for gold.

Ochoa de Caicido – Helped fit out Cordoba’s ship that discovered Yucatan.

Pedro de Jerez – Merchant who funded Cortes expedition, $4k pesos (Gom p. 21).