Hernán Cortés
1485–1547 · Spanish (Medellín, Extremadura) · Age of Discovery / Spanish Conquest
Known for: Conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire with approximately 600 soldiers by exploiting indigenous alliances
Cortés was audacious, ruthless, and diplomatically brilliant. He disobeyed the governor of Cuba to launch his expedition, scuttled his ships to prevent retreat, and exploited divisions among Mesoamerican peoples to build a coalition against the Aztec emperor Montezuma II.
He captured Tenochtitlan after a brutal 75-day siege that destroyed one of the world's great cities. He was charismatic enough to win indigenous allies, cruel enough to orchestrate massacres, and politically savvy enough to manage a complex coalition. He was later marginalized by the Spanish crown and died bitter, wealthy, but powerless in Spain.
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