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All of the conquistadors who came to the New World were ruthless, tough, ambitious and cruel, but Pedro de Alvarado was in a class by himself. Known by the natives as "Tonatiuh," or "Sun God" for his blonde hair, Alvarado was Cortés' most trusted lieutenant, and the one Cortés trusted to explore and conquer lands to the south of Mexico.

Alvarado found the remnants of the Maya Empire and using what he had learned from Cortés, soon turned local ethnic groups' mistrust of one another to his advantage.

Finally, in 1504, Hernan Cortes boarded a ship commanded by Alonso Quintero, departing for the west.  Quintero was ambitious.  More than once he tried to sneak away from his companions, so that he could secure the market for himself.  He was not very successful, but perhaps his ambition rubbed off on the young Cortes.In Hispaniola (Now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) Cortes went to the house of the Governor, who he knew from Spain.  The Governor was gone, and the secretary assured him that he would be able to get a land grant.  "But I came to get gold," he replied, "not to till the soil, like a peasant."When the Governor returned, Hernan Cortez was finally convinced to take a piece of land for a time.  He didn't entirely settle down, though.  He was involved in the military, suppressing native uprisings.  He was also often in duels over one girl or another.Over the next few years, Hernan Cortes took part in conquests of Cuba and Hispaniola, and received more land an native slaves as a result.  He became an important man in the colony of Cuba, and he became mayor of Santiago.  Eventually, he married the sister-in-law of Governor Velázquez, Catalina Xuárez.A whole other Hernan Cortez biography could be written about this time in his life.  He had a very troubled time, even being put in jail at one point.  He was very dissatisfied with his life, remaining ambitious for more wealth, more slaves, more adventure.