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the aztecs thought cortes was a messenger of their god
Hernán Cortés' father, Martín Cortés de Monroy, died in 1504. Martí Cortés was a Spanish nobleman and a soldier, and his death occurred when Hernán was still a young man. This loss may have influenced Cortés' later ambitions and endeavors in the New World.
Hernán Cortés' full name is Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano. His middle name, "Cortés," is derived from his father's surname, reflecting his family's lineage. He is best known for his role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century.
Hernan Cortes used the Aztec religious beliefs to his advantage by exploiting the prophecy of Quetzalcoatl's return, claiming to be the god returning, which helped him gain both allies and create fear among the Aztecs. This approach ultimately played a significant role in the downfall of Tenochtitlan as it caused divisions within the Aztec empire and weakened their resistance against the Spanish conquest.
Onate's conquest of the Hopi and Zuni in New Mexico was characterized by a relatively smaller scale and a focus on establishing missions and settlements rather than outright destruction. In contrast, Cortés' conquest of the Aztec Empire was marked by large-scale military engagements, significant violence, and the strategic use of alliances with rival tribes to topple a powerful empire. While both conquests aimed at territorial expansion and conversion to Christianity, Onate's approach involved more negotiation and settlement, whereas Cortés employed more aggressive tactics to dismantle the Aztec political structure.
Because of the Aztec's religious beliefs, when Cortes arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs believed that he was a god. The horses that the men rode and their much lighter skin coincided with a religious belief that they had and so, instead of trying to fight off Cortes and the Spaniards upon their arrival, the Aztecs treated them as gods; lavishing them with gifts and giving them food, gold and other supplies.