Francisco de Montejo

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Francisco de Montejo (c.1479 – c.1548) was a Spanish military man.

This conquistador served in Cuba under Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, later commanded a vessel in the expedition of Juan de Grijalva, and joined Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico. Montejo was commissioned to conquer the Maya of Yucatán, but failed in his attempt (1527–28) to take the peninsula from the east. He proceeded to Mexico, subdued (1530) Tabasco, and then conducted (1531–35) a campaign from the west. At first partially successful, he encountered increasingly fierce Maya resistance. His men, exhausted and finding no precious metals, deserted. Dissillusioned and weary of his failed conquest, he passed on the charge of conquering the Yucatán to his son.

His son of the same name went on to conquer Yucatán, founding the cities of Campeche and Mérida in 1542.

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