3. Pedro de Alvarado
As one of Hernán Cortés’s lieutenants, Pedro de Alvarado led the conquest of Guatemala in 1524. His forces, comprising Spanish soldiers and indigenous allies, faced fierce resistance from the K’iche’ Maya. Alvarado’s reputation for brutality was evident in his scorched-earth tactics and the massacre of K’iche’ leaders. This approach mirrored the violence of other conquistadors, such as Cortés and Pizarro. (britannica.com)
