The men who led expeditions to conquer what today is Mexico and Central America became known as conquistadors. These were Spanish leaders and soldiers who undertook the conquest of indigenous empires in the 16th century. The most famous among them was Hernán Cortés, who led the expedition that conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico between 1519 and 1521. Cortés and his forces, along with indigenous allies such as the Tlaxcalans, captured the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, marking the beginning of Spanish rule in central Mexico
. Other notable conquistadors involved in the conquest of Central America included Pedro de Alvarado and Cristóbal de Olid, who led expeditions into regions that are now part of Guatemala and Honduras
. The term "conquistador" broadly refers to these leaders of Spanish expeditions who conquered large parts of the Americas for Spain during the Age of Exploration
. In summary, these expedition leaders are collectively known as conquistadors.
