Luis Marin (conquistador) facts for kids

Luis Marin was a Spanish explorer and soldier, known as a Spanish conquistador. He worked with Captain General Hernán Cortés in many military actions in New Spain. This area is now Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Marin was a captain who led many soldiers, including the famous writer Bernal Díaz del Castillo. He helped conquer parts of southeastern Mexico. Marin became a close friend of Cortés. He served him from 1519 until 1531.

Luis Marin's Early Life

Cities in southeastern Mexico around the 1500s.

Luis Marin was born around 1499. His hometown was Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Cádiz, Spain. His mother, Maria Bernal Guillen, was also from Sanlúcar de Barrameda. His father, Francisco Marin, came from a rich banking family in Italy.

Marin married Maria de Mendoza. She was related to Hernán Cortés's second wife. Luis Marin had eleven children. According to Bernal Diaz del Castillo's writings, Marin was a kind person. He often tried to solve conflicts peacefully. He would return captured people to their homes.

Spanish Conquests in Mexico

Marin arrived in Veracruz, Mexico, in July 1519. He was 20 years old. He came from Cuba with Francisco de Saucedo. Hernán Cortés had already started his campaigns there.

After Saucedo died in 1520, Marin worked directly for Cortés. He took part in important battles. These included the fall of Tenochtitlan. He also helped conquer Chiapas in 1523 and Tabasco in 1524.

Exploring and Conquering Southeastern Mexico

Cortés often sent Marin to deal with rebellions. Marin traveled through the mountains of Chiapas and Tabasco. He sometimes fought the enemy himself. He was wounded a few times.

Marin and his soldiers went to places like Guacasualco, Citla, and Tabasco. They explored deep into the forests and marshlands. They even went as far as Guatemala and Honduras. Controlling the Isthmus of Tehuantepec was very important. It gave Spain the shortest land route to the Pacific Ocean.

The Hibueras Campaign in Honduras

On October 12, 1524, Luis Marin joined Hernán Cortés on a trip to the Hibueras. This area is now the Atlantic coast of Honduras. Cortés was going there to stop Captain Cristóbal de Olid. Olid had rebelled and claimed Honduras for himself.

Cortés asked many original soldiers to join him. He also brought La Malinche and Cuauhtemoc along. He was worried they might start a rebellion if left behind. After more than a year of fighting, Cortés defeated Olid. Then, he ordered Marin to return to Mexico. Marin arrived back in Guacasualco in late 1526.

Quelling Rebellions in Chiapas

Marin returned to Guacasualco, Veracruz, Mexico. He gathered soldiers for a new attack in Chiapas. This group included Captain Bernal Diaz del Castillo. They were sent to stop a rebellion in early 1527.

They were attacked by local people at Cimatlan. Marin thought everyone was lost. But Bernal Diaz del Castillo and Francisco Martin returned. These events are written in Diaz del Castillo's famous book, "The True History of the Conquest of New Spain". Marin later met with Cortés and received more soldiers. With these new forces, he was able to stop the rebellions in Chiapas and Tabasco.

Luis Marin's Later Life and Legacy

Marin moved back to Mexico City in 1531. He married Maria de Mendoza Arellano. She was related to Hernán Cortés's second wife. They had eleven children together.

In 1539, he became the mayor of Mexico City. A year later, he became a Councilman. He received money each year for his service to the Spanish Crown. Luis Marin died in 1547 when he was about 48 years old. The cause of his death is not known.

See also

In Spanish: Luis Marín (militar) para niños