Cortes (Hernán Cortés)

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. In 1519, he arrived in present-day Mexico with a small force, forming alliances with local tribes opposed to the Aztecs. Utilizing military skill, strategic diplomacy, and sometimes deception, he captured the Aztec ruler Montezuma II. His actions resulted in the conquest of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán in 1521, and Spain established control over Mexico, beginning colonial rule in the Americas. Cortés is often regarded as a complex, controversial figure due to his role in this conquest.