Francisco de Montejo the Younger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francisco de Montejo
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A monument of Montejo in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
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| Born |
Francisco de Montejo y León
1508 |
| Died | 8 February 1565 (aged 56–57) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Other names | El Mozo |
| Occupation | Conquistador |
| Relatives |
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Francisco de Montejo y León (born in 1508 – died February 8, 1565) was a Spanish explorer and soldier. He was often called "the Younger" or "El Mozo" in Spanish. He is most famous for founding the city of Mérida in 1542. Mérida is now the capital of the Yucatán state in Mexico.
Francisco de Montejo y León was the son of another famous explorer, also named Francisco de Montejo. In 1527, he sailed from Spain with his father and his cousin, Francisco de Montejo "the Nephew". They traveled to Cozumel to begin the Spanish conquest of Yucatán.
Contents
Early Explorations in Tabasco
In 1528, Francisco de Montejo "the Younger" arrived in a place called Santa Maria de la Victoria. This was the first Spanish city built in what is now the Mexican state of Tabasco. His job was to bring peace to the area.
By 1530, he became the main leader of this effort. This happened when his father left to focus on the conquest of Yucatán.
Challenges and Changes
Francisco de Montejo "the Younger" had almost brought peace to the entire Grijalva River region. However, a group called the First Court removed his father from his position. They appointed someone else to be the mayor of Tabasco. This meant "El Mozo" had to leave Santa Maria de la Victoria and wait for his father's new orders.
Returning to Tabasco
In 1535, the local native groups in Tabasco rose up against the Spanish. Because of this, his father was given his old job back. His father then sent "El Mozo" back to Tabasco to try and bring peace to the area again. He was partly successful in 1537.
In 1539, "El Mozo" was given the important titles of captain general and governor of Tabasco. But in 1540, he left Tabasco to join his father. They were starting a new attempt to conquer Yucatán.
Founding Mérida and Later Life
In 1542, Francisco de Montejo "the Younger" achieved a major victory. He gained control of the western part of the Yucatán Peninsula. This area is now part of the state of Yucatán.
He then founded the city of Mérida. He built it on the site of an old Mayan city called Ichkansihóo (T'Hó), which was mostly empty at the time.
After the conquest, he continued to live in Mérida for a while. Later, he moved to Guatemala. He passed away there on February 8, 1565, after a long illness.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco de Montejo el mozo para niños
