Cortés, Hernán

views updated

Cortés, Hernán (1485–1547) Spanish conquistador and conqueror of Mexico. In 1518, Cortés sailed from Cuba to Central America with 550 men. They marched inland toward the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City), gaining allies among the subject peoples of the Aztec king, Montezuma II. While he was absent, conflict broke out. In 1521 Cortés captured the city after a three-month siege, thereby gaining the Aztec empire for Spain.

More From encyclopedia.com