conquistador, any of the leaders in the Spanish conquest of America, especially of Mexico and Peru, in the 16th century. An expedition against Aztec Mexico was led by Hernán Cortés, who set up a base camp at Veracruz in 1519 to prepare for an advance inland.
The conquistadors, meaning "conquerors", were Iberian military adventurers who operated as the vanguard of empires in the 15th and 16th centuries by exploring areas of the world unknown to Europeans, defeating indigenous armies, and then distributing loot and land.
Leaders in these expansionist efforts were the conquistadors (conquerors), who led several expeditions in search of gold, wealth, and fame in various areas of the Americas. Read on to discover the stories of the most famous conquistadors and how they overthrew ancient empires.
In this season one Conquistadors: The Rise and Fall mega episode, National Geographic uncovers the history and legends of infamous conquistadors and their conquests. Featuring Full Episodes:...
Armed with the an adelantado, a title bestowed upon the conquistador by the Spanish monarch, conquistadors were instrumental in the conquest and colonization of vast regions in Central and South America, including present-day Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and other parts of the continent.
Among the most famous conquistadors were Hernán Cortés, who led the conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico, and Francisco Pizarro, who conquered the Inca Empire in Peru.
Those who set out to colonize the New World for Spain were known as conquistadors. Learn more about ten of the most infamous conquistadors below. In 1519, Hernán Cortés set out from Cuba with 600 men on an expedition to the mainland in present-day Mexico.