The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cortes \Cor"tes\ (k[^o]r"t[e^]s), n. pl. [Sp. & Pg., fr. corte
   court.]
   The legislative assembly, composed of nobility, clergy, and
   representatives of cities, which in Spain and in Portugal
   answers, in some measure, to the Parliament of Great Britain.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Cortes
    n 1: Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered
         Mexico (1485-1547) [syn: Cortes, Cortez, Hernando
         Cortes, Hernando Cortez, Hernan Cortes, Hernan
         Cortez]

Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CORTES. The name of the legislative assemblies of Spain and Portugal.