1. Hernán Cortés
In 1519, Hernán Cortés led an expedition to the Aztec Empire, forming alliances with indigenous groups who opposed Aztec rule. These alliances were crucial in the siege and eventual sacking of Tenochtitlán in 1521. Cortés’s ambition and strategic prowess were instrumental in the conquest, but his methods and the resulting devastation have left a controversial legacy. (smithsonianmag.com)
