What expedition was led by conquistador Hernan Cortes?
1 Answer
The Mexican one
Explanation:
Hernan Cortes, chosen to lead the 500 men army, landed in 1519 in Mexico. As soon as he landed, he made some alliances with nearby tribes, and, Moctezuma II (the Aztec Emperor) thought him to be Quetzalcoatl, as basically there's a Aztec legend about Quetzalcoatl leaving, and then coming back. At first, with some apprehension, Montezuma pretty much drowned Cortes with gold and all other sorts of gifts, which, rather than satiating him, made him even more ravenous than before, for the Aztec riches.
Afterwards, Cortes marched to Tenochtitlan (Aztec capital, modern day Mexico city), where he was welcomed with open arms by the emperor. He was then captured by the Spaniards, died, and then the Spaniards were driven out by the angry denizens of the city. After nearly being wiped out, Cortes returned with fresh forces, and finished sieging the city, until most of the city died (because of plague), and then Cortes raized the city to the ground. He then named all these new lands "New Spain".
