Where Did The Spanish Conquistadors Come From?

The conquistadors were Spanish soldiers and explorers who traveled all over the world in the name of Spain. As their name implies, the main objective of the “conquistadors” (meaning “conquerors” in Spanish), was to acquire wealth and power for their country. They did this mainly by subjugating native peoples, most especially those in the “New World” of North and South America.

The origins of the conquistadors can be traced back to the 12th century, so you'll need to go back in history to understand where did the Spanish conquistadors come from. At this time, the Roman Catholic church declared a “holy war” on the Muslims living in the Holy Lands. Attempting to re-take these sacred lands, soldiers from all over Europe fought in the Crusades for hundreds of years (ultimately to no avail).

As these Crusades went on, the Catholic Spaniards struggled with problems at home. Since the invasion of the Muslim Moors in the 8th century, conflict had raged over possession of the Iberian Peninsula (containing modern day Spain and Portugal). After centuries of fighting, the last Muslim stronghold fell to the Spanish in 1492. This victory, seen by the Catholic Spaniards as a continuation of the Medieval Crusades, was known as the “Reconquesta.”

Conquistadors Continue the Holy Work

The first Spanish conquistadors began to emerge during this post-war period. A number of veteran soldiers began to believe that it was their duty to continue the holy work that had started with the Crusades and continued with the Reconquesta. With the discovery of the New World in the late 15th century, these first conquistadors set their sights on converting the “heathen” natives to Christianity.

The first conquistadors that traveled to the New World took with them a number of priests and friars. This ensured that the missions retained a spiritual focus. Of course, this was not the only (or even the primary) motive for these voyages. In fact, the conquistadors and their patrons were motivated by far less altruistic forces.

The primary motives of these conquistadors surrounded around power and wealth. Spain commissioned these soldier/explorers for a number of purposes. Conquistadors were expected to:

• Bring back spices and treasure
• Increase the power and prestige of Spain
• Conquer lands in order to increase the size of the Spanish empire

Conquistadors in the New World

Almost as soon as the Spanish conquistadors landed in the New World, they began to oppress the native populations by establishing the Encomienda system.

Under this system, natives were expected to pay a tax to the conquistadors in exchange for protection and religious instruction. However, due to the fact that the conquistador was thousands of miles away from the government in Spain, this system was often abused. Many, such as Hernando Cortes, treated the natives very poorly; they were abused, degraded, and often murdered.

Hernando Cortes and Quetzalcoatl

The history of the Spanish Conquistadors all begins with a story. It was the summer of 1519. The Aztec tribe of Mexico eagerly awaited the predicted return of Quetzalcoatl, their light-skinned, bearded God-King. This God-King, considered by the Aztecs to be ruler over all of civilization, was worshipped as a savior (not unlike the way in which Christians regard Christ). As the year progressed, the Aztec tribe diligently prepared to receive their God.

During this time, Hernando Cortes, an explorer and soldier of fortune from Spain, had just landed in Mexico and was headed for the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. As he traveled inland, Cortes learned of Quetzalcoatl and his predicted return, and he was determined to take advantage of this coincidence.

A few days later Cortes and his men entered the Aztec capital. Thinking he could be their returned God-King, the Aztecs did not attempt to stop him. This was their fatal mistake. In just ten years, Cortes had toppled the entire Aztec civilization.

Hernando Cortes was, arguably, the most famous Spanish conquistador in history.

Legacy of the Conquistadors

By the end of the 17th century, the age of the Spanish Conquistadors was completely over. However, for the Native Americans living in North and South America, the oppression would continue. Though they marked an age of wealth and  power for Spain, the legend of the conquistadors will forever be marred. The terrible legacy that these soldier/explorers left behind continues to haunt the “New World” to this day.