Hernán Cortés

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who is best known for leading the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. Arriving in Mexico in 1519, he formed alliances with indigenous groups and utilized advanced military tactics to defeat the Aztecs, ultimately capturing their leader, Montezuma II. His actions played a significant role in the establishment of Spanish colonization in the Americas, but they also led to widespread suffering and the decline of indigenous populations due to war and disease. Cortés’s legacy is complex, intertwining exploration, conquest, and colonial impact.