The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs, 1519–21

Spanish-Mexican history

Written by

Jordana Rosenfeld

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Reports of riches discovered by Spanish expeditions to Yucatán in 1517 played a role in turning the attention of Spanish colonists in Cuba, including Hernán Cortés, the mayor of Santiago de Cuba, toward Mexico. Cortés began preparing an exploration and trading expedition to Mexico under the sponsorship of Cuban Gov. Diego Velásquez de Cuéllar. When Velásquez changed his mind and withdrew his support, however, Cortés set out on an unauthorized rogue expedition in February 1519...