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Hernán Cortez was a Spanish conquistador. He went to the capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, in search of Moctezuma (the Aztec King), in a quest for silver and gold. He is most famous for convincing Spain to stay in the Mayas in order to gain wealth and power.
Cortéz was born on 1485 in the Spanish city of Medellin. At the University of Salamanca, he decided to be a lawyer. Hernán left the university after two years to become a soldier and in 1504, he went to seek his fortune to the West Indies. Marina, a native of the West Indies helped Hernán Cortéz accomplish his mission by teaching him to speak Spanish. Marina also helped because if it were not for her Cortéz would not have learned of the King that ruled the great Aztec empire. In a way, the Aztec King also helped Cortéz by giving him gold as gifts so he would return to Cuba, but unfortunately, Cortéz remained in the Mayas to continue his quest for wealth and gold. Cortéz, with thousands of native allies and his Spanish troops got to Tenochtitlan on November 8th, 1519.
When Cortéz was in Tenochtitlan, Governer Velasquez sent a large group of soldiers to capture him from Cuba. Finding out about this plan, Cortéz left Cuba. However his fleet of ships were left in ruin during the ensuing battle. When Hernan's men were trying to cross a bridge near the battle, the Aztecs attacked them. Some of the Spaniards died while crossing the bridge because they were carrying so much gold, it weighed them down and they drowned.
Cortéz then made plans to re-conquer the Aztec capital, eight hundred Spaniards and two hundred thousand native Mexican allies joined his army. Unfortunately, in Tenochtitlan, a smallpox epidemic broke out and the new Aztec King died. Cuathemac, Moctezuma's nephew, took his place and was captured to be sacrificed as a prisoner of war. However, instead of killing him, Cortéz let him live because he admired his courage.
When Cortéz entered Tenochtitlan there were over one hundred thousand dead as a result of the smallpox epidemic. A new city was build in Tenochtitlan's place because it had been destroyed.
When Cortéz entered the city, the Aztecs attacked and Hernán lost about two thousand five hundred Mexican and Spanish soldiers. Cortéz quickly replenished his forces by recruiting the remaining population. The Aztecs were not popular at this time either. so Cortéz won by default. The results of his efforts was that Spain, at this point, was the most powerful, and wealthiest empire in the word; although this would not last.
Hernán became Governer of the new city, then Capital General, and even after that, Chief Justice of New Spain. If Cortéz wouldn't have explored, Spain would have lost her power, wealth and even the colonies in Peru, Mexico and other parts of the world. His exploration effected Spain by helping it not lose the power it had. Cortéz harmed the Aztecs by destroying their city. Some native peoples wanted to rebel because they felt that Spain should not have come to the Mayas to conquer; still others agreed with him because the Aztecs were known to be authoritarian and brutal conquers themselves. Hernán Cortéz died May 20th, 1506, in Spain. He also died in poverty.