Feature Did Hernán Cortés Murder His First Wife? Within two months of arriving in New Spain, Catalina Suárez Marcaida, first wife of the conquistador Hernán Cortés, was dead. Did she meet with foul play? Amy Fuller | Published in History Today Volume 73 Issue 9 September 2023 A statue of Catalina Suárez Marcaida from 1575 in Seville. Suárez died under mysterious circumstances less than a year into her marriage to Hernán Cortés, governor of New Spain. Wikimedia Commons. To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.