Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain. He is most famous for leading the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought much of what is now mainland Mexico under Spanish rule in the early 16th century. Cortés initially traveled to the New World seeking adventure and wealth, eventually becoming the captain of an expedition to the Mexican mainland despite opposition from the governor of Cuba. Using strategic alliances with some indigenous groups and the help of an indigenous interpreter, Doña Marina, he managed to overthrow the powerful Aztec Empire between 1519 and 1521. For his efforts, he was granted the title Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca. Cortés died in Spain in 1547 after a life marked by exploration, conquest, and political challenges in the Americas.
