Hernan Cortés invaded Mexico in 1519 and conquered the Aztec Empire. Credit: Public domain. Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador, or conqueror, best remembered for conquering the Aztec empire in 1521 and claiming Mexico for Spain. He also helped colonize Cuba and became a governor of New Spain.
Cortés met two people, a Friar who spoke Spanish and Mayan and a woman who spoke Mayan and Nahuatl. Nahuatl is the language of the Aztecs. By translating from Spanish to Mayan to Nahuatl and back again, they could communicate with the Aztecs.
