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Cortés's Private Kingdom: The Marquesado del Valle
Season 4
Episode 182
Published 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Description
After the fall of Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortés was granted the Marquesado del Valle, a vast feudal domain spanning modern-day Oaxaca, Morelos, and Veracruz. This episode explores how Cortés governed as a quasi-independent lord, exploiting indigenous labor through the encomienda system while clashing with the Spanish crown over taxes and jurisdiction. We examine the rebellion of the Mixtec and Zapotec peoples, the establishment of Cortés's palace in Cuernavaca, and the legal battles that stripped his heirs of power. Discover the untold story of the conquistador's final years—a tale of ambition, corruption, and the limits of conquest.