Hernán Cortés

Definition

A Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century.

Analogy

Think of Hernán Cortés as a chess player. He strategically maneuvered his pieces (his men and alliances) to checkmate Montezuma II (the Aztec emperor), leading to Spain's control over Mexico.

Related terms

Conquistadors: The knights, soldiers and explorers of the Spanish Empire or Portuguese Empire during Age Of Discovery.

Aztec Empire: An alliance of three Nahua altepetl city-states: Mexico-Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan which ruled much of central Mexico from 1428 until 1521 when they were defeated by Spanish conquistadors.

Montezuma II: The ninth ruler of Tenochtitlan, reigning from 1502 to 1520. He was killed during the initial stages of the Spanish conquest of Mexico when Cortés and his men fought to escape from Tenochtitlan.