Francisco de Montejo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Francisco de Montejo (c.1479 in Salamanca – c.1548 in Spain) was a Spanish conquistador in Mexico and Central America.

Of de Montejo's early life nothing certain is known. He enlisted in 1514, in search of fortune, in the expedition of Pedrarias Davila for the Spanish main, but shortly after his arrival in Nombre de Dias, not liking the prospect, he went to Cuba, where he served under Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, who entrusted him with the command of the troops in the expedition to Yucatan of May, 1518.

De Montejo commanded a vessel in the expedition of Juan de Grijalva, and joined Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico on February 18, 1519. He was the first Spaniard to touch the shore, and assisted in the foundation of Veracruz, being appointed by Cortes a member of the first common council. In July of that year he was commissioned by Cortes to carry to Spain the news of the conquest and presents for the emperor, who in 1522 appointed him governor of the fortress of Veracruz.

On his return to Mexico he assisted Cortes in the conquest till the beginning of 1526, when he returned on another commission to Spain, and in December of that year made an agreement with the emperor for the conquest of Yucatan, receiving the title of adelantado and governor.

In May, 1528, he left Neville with three vessels and 500 men, and after his arrival carried on a constant war for twelve years, passing victoriously through the country from Kimpech to Vera Paz, subduing Tabasco in 1530, assassinating the Lecan tribal chief Lempira (Lenca) in 1537 in modern Honduras, until on 23 January, 154l, the most powerful king of that region, Tutulxin, surrendered. He founded the cities of Campeche, Valladolid, and Salamanca in Yucatan, New Sevilla and Olancho in Guatemala, and Port Caballos and Comayagua in Honduras. In 1546 a royal commissioner arrived to investigate his administration, and he was found lacking. In 1548 he returned to Spain to complain at court of the injustice that was thus done him, where he died.

His son of the same name was born in Salamanca in 1502; died in Merida, Yucatan, in 1560, accompanied his father on his expeditions, conquered Yucatán, founded the cities of Campeche and Mérida in 1542, and in 1545 was appointed by his father assistant governor of Yucatan and Cozumel.