Hernan Cortes (1485-1547) was a Spanish <em>Conquistador (</em>or conqueror) who led the forces which caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and its capital, the city of Tenochtitlán. The siege and fall of this city took place in 1521, after systematic manipulations of the local forces and due to very valuable informants such as La Malinche. She was an indigenous woman who became the interpreter and companion of Hernan Cortes and revealed crucial information to him.
