History
Hernán Cortés: The Conquistador
An overview of Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and established Spanish rule in Mexico.
What is it?
Hernán Cortés (1485-1547) was a Spanish conquistador famous for orchestrating the overthrow of the Aztec Empire. Between 1519 and 1521, he led an expedition into mainland Mexico. A gifted but ruthless leader, Cortés exploited internal conflicts within the Aztec empire, forging crucial alliances with indigenous peoples who were hostile to Aztec rule. This strategy, combined with superior Spanish weaponry and the devastating impact of European diseases like smallpox, allowed his small force to conquer the vast Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, in 1521. He subsequently claimed the territory for Spain, which became the colony of New Spain.
Why is it trending?
Cortés is a perennially discussed historical figure because his conquest was a pivotal moment in the age of exploration and the history of the Americas. His legacy is deeply controversial and continues to fuel debate. While lauded in Europe for centuries for his military genius and for expanding the Spanish Empire, in modern Mexico, he is widely seen as a brutal invader responsible for cultural destruction and mass death. This complex identity—as both a brilliant strategist and a perpetrator of immense violence—makes him a central figure in ongoing conversations about colonialism, its consequences, and how history is remembered.
How does it affect people?
The conquest led by Cortés had a profound and irreversible impact. It resulted in the fall of the Aztec civilization and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of indigenous people from conflict and disease. It marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in mainland America, leading to the imposition of Spanish language, religion (Christianity), and government on the native populations. For people today, his legacy is evident in the cultural and genetic makeup of modern Mexico. It represents the violent beginning of centuries of European colonial rule that reshaped the political, social, and cultural landscape of the entire American continent.