Francisco de Aguilar (conquistador) facts for kids
Francisco de Aguilar (born Alonso de Aguilar, 1479 — around 1571) was a Spanish conquistador. He was part of the group led by Hernán Cortés. This group conquered the Aztec Empire in what is now Mexico. They also captured Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztecs.
After the conquest, Aguilar received an encomienda. This was a system where Spanish settlers were given control over groups of native people. They could demand labor or tribute from them. But in 1529, Aguilar decided to leave this life. He joined the Dominican Order, which is a group of Catholic friars. He changed his name to Francisco.
Aguilar spent the next 40 years as a Dominican friar. He thought a lot about whether the conquest was right or wrong.
Writing About the Conquest
When he was in his 80s, other Dominicans asked him to write about his experiences. He wrote an account called Relación breve de la conquista de la Nueva España. This means "Brief Record of the Conquest of New Spain."
His book was not published while he was alive. But a handwritten copy was kept safe at a royal library in Spain. It was first published in 1900. Today, you can find modern English translations of his story.
Francisco de Aguilar died in Mexico when he was about 92 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco de Aguilar para niños
