Spain's overthrow of Mexico

Herman Cortes a Spanish nobleman was a major player of Spain's incursion into Mexico, he led an expedition, starting out from Cuba, they arrived on Mexican shores in 1519. However, it was not to be plain sailing, due to the unfamiliar terrain, disease and being met with enormous hostility from the ruling Aztecs. It was an extremely complex situation, the Spanish invaders were however helped by the fact that the Aztec's who controlled much of Mexico were oppressive rulers and therefore extremely unpopular. Many indigenous groups formed alliances with the Spanish invaders and fought against the Aztecs, the battles were brutal.

Spanish rule in Mexico continued for 300 years, from the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521 until Mexico's independence. This period is known as the colonial era, during which Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire. Eventually and inevitably the Mexicans became discontented with their colonial rulers, which led to many bloody battles, terminating in Mexican independence in 1821. During these years of rule, the Spaniards made off with much of Mexico's gold and silver. To this day the Mexicans have never forgiven Spain for their brutal regime, and stealing much of their wealth, it is still a major topic of conversation in Mexico.

Isla Mujeres didn't escape the Spanish incursion, the island dates back some one thousand five hundred years when it was first inhabited by the Mayans. The National Institute of History and Anthropology found Mayan ruins on the island in Mundaca's Hacienda. The grounds that belonged to the famous Spanish pirate Mundaca. There is some doubt over the origin of the name Isla Mujeres. One theory being that the Spanish explorer Francisco Fernandez de Cordoba who discovered the island during1517,found many female idols dedicated to a goddess named Ixchel, and therefor named the Island Isla Mujeres.

There is however another theory; which is that the lagoon was an ideal refuge for buccaneers and pirates. The Spanish were removing enormous quantities of gold from the Yucatan region and transporting it to Europe, the pirates were said to lay in wait for them, attacking them on route and stealing the gold and silver. Perhaps it could not be considered stealing as the Spaniards had stolen it in the first place from Mexico. It is believed they moored their pirate ships in the lagoon at Isla Mujeres. The theory is that they considered Isla Mujeres a safe place to keep their women whilst they plundered the Spanish ships, although nobody knows with any certainty the origin of the island's name.