Which conquistador is known for conquering the Aztecs?

Hernán Cortés is recognized for his conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. He arrived in present-day Mexico in 1519 and led a small force that managed to defeat the vastly larger Aztec army. His strategies included forming alliances with various indigenous groups who were adversaries of the Aztecs, maneuvering politically and militarily to weaken the empire from within.

Cortés famously captured the Aztec emperor Moctezuma II, ultimately leading to the fall of Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, in 1521. This pivotal moment resulted in the establishment of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico, significantly altering the course of history in the Americas.

The other figures mentioned, such as Francisco Pizarro, were involved in different conquests, specifically the Inca Empire in South America, while Juan de Salazar and Cairo de Mesa do not have significant associations with major conquests of Indigenous empires in the way that Cortés does.