The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire began in 1519 when Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, arrived in present-day Mexico. He was motivated by the desire for wealth and glory. Cortés formed alliances with local tribes who were enemies of the Aztecs, which helped him gather support against the powerful Aztec ruler Moctezuma II. In 1521, after a series of battles and the spread of diseases like smallpox, the Spanish forces captured Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital. The fall of Tenochtitlán marked the end of the Aztec Empire and led to the establishment of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico, significantly impacting the region's culture and history.