| Timeline |
| 1485 |
Cortés is born in Medellin, Extremadura, in Castile, to a family of lesser nobility |
| 1499 |
Cortés attends the university of Salamanca |
| 1501 |
Leaves university, returns home |
| 1504 |
Joins an expedition of five ships that sail for Santo Domingo in the New World - he becomes a citizen and becomes notary of the town of Azuza |
| 1506 |
Takes part in the conquest of Hispaniola and Cuba; made clerk to the treasurer |
| 1511 |
Joins Diego Velasquez in exploring Cuba |
| 1519 |
Cortés appointed commander of an expedition to find the legendary Aztec empire |
| 1521 |
Cortés claims Tenochtitlan for Spain |
| 1522 |
Given the title of Captain General and Governor of New Spain |
| 1524 |
Explores Honduras |
| 1528 |
Recalled to Spain; awarded the title "Marques del Valle de Oaxaca" |
| 1530 |
Returns to Mexico, but divested of his civil rank; wife, Catalina, dies |
| 1536 |
Discovers the Baja California peninsula |
| 1539 |
Returns to Spain |
| 1541 |
Joins expedition against Algiers |
| 1547 |
Cortés dies 2 December in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Seville of pleurisy |
