WHERE DID THE EXPEDITIONS TO AMERICAN TERRITORY DEPART FROM? - HISTORY - 2025

The three Spanish expeditions that reached the American territory in Mexico left Cuba and were carried out from 1517 to 1519. It was known in Spain since the time of the discovery that in the new world there were civilizations that possessed a large amount of gold and other precious metals.

In order to dispose of these riches, a law was enacted that allowed the so-called "gold rescue", which encouraged the Spanish to travel to America in order to carry out commercial exchanges with the inhabitants of those lands.

The Spanish of Cuba, whose governor was Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, take advantage of the opportunity created by the recent law to try to get better opportunities to achieve profit and wealth.

On the other hand, they were also pressed by the low profitability provided by the exploitation of the natives, who could be legally enslaved, but their numbers had been drastically reduced by the campaigns of conquest and disease.

Taking all this into account, they organize three expeditions from the island of Cuba to continental America, specifically to what is now Mexico.

Where did the Spanish expeditions that reached the American territory in Mexico leave from?

There were three expeditions organized from Cuba to the continental territory of America, more specifically to Mexico, and they were carried out successively in the years 1517, 1518 and 1519.

First expedition

Part of the port of Santiago de Cuba on February 8, 1517.

It was made up of three ships with one hundred and ten crew members in total, under the command of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. Disembark on Isla de Mujeres, off the Yucatan coast.

Second expedition

This expedition also departs from Santiago de Cuba, on May 1, 1518 but makes a stopover in the Cuban port of Matanzas.

It is made up of two ships, a caravel and a brig. The latter is replaced shortly after setting sail by another similar ship, while still in Cuban waters.

The expeditionary group is made up of 200 men under the command of Juan de Grijalva, who was the nephew of the governor of Cuba Diego Velázquez.

This expedition reaches the island of Cozumel, travels the Yucatan peninsula and later arrives at Isla del Carmen in the Laguna de Terminos. It is here where Grijalva gives the name of New Spain to the discovered lands.

Upon returning to Cuba, Grijalva is reproached and dismissed by Governor Diego Velázquez for not having established any colony in the explored lands, which was the main objective of this expedition.

Third expedition

It is the largest and most transcendental of the three expeditions, since it begins the conquest of Mexico and causes the end of the Mexica empire.

It was the largest in terms of vessels and men, bringing together eleven ships and five hundred and fifty men. It was commanded by Hernán Cortés, who by then was the mayor of Santiago (Cuba).

This expedition, with Cortés in command, leaves from Cape San Antón in Cuba on February 18, 1519, arriving first at the island of Cozumel, from where it would then pass to the continental territory of Mexico, beginning the journey through Yucatán, Tabasco and Veracruz, from there to begin the conquest of Mexico-Tenochtitlán.

References

1. Gengiskanhg (pseudonym). (February 4, 2005). Excerpts from the article "Conquest of Mexico". Recovered from es.wikipedia.org.
2. paratodomexico.com. (without date). Excerpts from the article “First Spanish Expeditions to Mexico”. Recovered from paratodomexico.com.
3. nationalgeographic.com.es. (November 21, 2012). References of the article "Henán Cortés, the conqueror of the Aztec empire". Recovered from nationalgeographic.com.es.
4. Carmona D., D. (undated). References of the article "The expedition of Hernán Cortés leaves Cuba and begins the conquest of Mexico". Recovered from memoriapoliticademexico.org.
5. templarioazteca.blogspot.com. (March 9, 2007). Article "SPANISH EXPEDITIONS FOR THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO". Recovered from templarioazteca.blogspot.com.