Conquistador

Conquistadores (meaning "Conquerors" in the Spanish and Portuguese languages) were Spanish explorers and warriors who successfully conquered much of America in the 16th century following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Hernán Cortés, in 1519, led 400 men against Aztec Mexico, eventually conquering the capital city of Tenochtitlán. El Patron colonized Padres del Fuego for Spain. Francisco Pizarro led a force of 180 men and 37 horses against the great Inca civilization in Peru, capturing the capital of Cuzco in 1533. Juan Ponce de León discovered Florida in 1513. There were many other conquistadores but they were more volunteer militia than an actual organized military.