In 1519, Hernan Cortes, mayor of the Spanish capital in Cuba, finally received a long desired charter to lead an expedition into Mexico. Even though the charter was revoked shortly after its issue, Cortes went ahead anyway, his mutiny stemming from his plans for the expedition. Landing on the Mexican mainland at Veracruz, Cortes immediately scuttled his ships, starting a campaign that drastically redefined the perceived role of the European explorer in the New World.
Ships
