Hernando Cortés was a Spanish conquistador born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain. He is best known for leading the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire in 1521. Cortés played a crucial role in the Spanish colonization of Mexico and is often credited with claiming large territories for Spain. Cortés arrived in the New World in 1504 and initially settled in Hispaniola. His ambition led him to explore Cuba and eventually to the mainland of Mexico, where he encountered the Aztecs and their leader, Moctezuma II. His actions significantly impacted the history of the Americas and European colonization.