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The Most Ruthless Things Hernan Cortes Did

Weird History | August 14, 2025



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History brims with oppressive, self-serving, and indifferent people. Hernán Cortés, the notorious Spanish conquistador, was one of them. Spanish conquistadors were generally insensitive and exploitive to indigenous peoples in their quest for wealth and power. Cortés was a trailblazer – he was the first Spaniard to make significant inroads in what is today modern Mexico. However, his actions led to the demise of one of the most powerful empires in the Americas. Born into a noble family in Spain around 1485, Cortés experienced a restless childhood, dreaming of fame and fortune. Spain’s increasing exploration of the Americas gave the young Cortés the chance he was looking for. In 1504, he followed his dreams westward. Cortés subsequent actions ultimately led to the fall of the Aztec world.

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Comments

This post currently has 33 comments.

  2. @CAgirl7

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    Mississippian's built mounds just like the Mayan and Aztec. I believe they are the same people. I don't believe the stories about them sacrificing people is based in fact. There would be evidence of it in the other tribes as well. You see what those Bullfighters do to the Bulls in Spain. You can see who came up with the Aztec history. The very people who annihilated a whole culture. They destroyed their city. There's very little of their culture left. All of this is speculation and heresay from the very people who almost wiped them out. It's kinda strange how all Native people in North America have the same stories about the Spanish Conquers don't you think?

  5. @rolando8669

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    I must admit that I keep listening to these videos because they’re funny, since their fact-checking is horribly bad and as biased as can possibly be…

  6. @keelhe893

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    When we speak of the Inquisition,crusades and colonization I do think it’s important to state that they tried to share Catholicism not Christianity because they are different in beliefs.

  8. @michaelmorrison7632

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    Alexandria Ocasio Cortes is one of his ancestors and just as dangerous. She should be ashamed to show her face as her ancestor was a sadist and a murderer of an entire indigenous people. AOC should go away.

  18. @edgarjc9275

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    6:12. This is just a myth, Moctezuma didn't though they were gods (nobody did), all the nahuas knew they were men, and Moctezuma actually sent emissaries to Cortes asking him not to come.
    9:58: The Aztec language (as well as all the major cities of that time) was Nahuatl. The Nahuatl was never suppressed, in 1570 the King declared that Nahuatl was the official language of New Spain. In Mexico's independence (1815) 66% of the population spoke Nahuatl.

    10:00 The Encomiendas wasn't a system of slavery and oppression, they were a system where the land was distributed between the Spanish and the allies Mexican cities (Tlaxcala, Texcoco… etc). And they kept the original Mesoamerican system of tributes in spices and food. The only thing that changed it was nobody asked for human sacrifices anymore.

    11:20 Malinche's name was Marina. Was offered as a slave but Cortes baptized her. Cortés built a house for her in the town of Coyoacán. Everyone referred to her as "La señora" or "Doña Marina" which means great lady. Cortes had the Pope (yes, that Pope) remove the "natural" status of Martin (and all his children), legitimizing him in the eyes of the church. Hernan Cortes Married her to Juan Jaramillo given he was already married. Many argue that she was the real conqueror of Mexico as she told Cortes the culture and customs of the indigenous people. She was a slave, and Cortes's greatest asset, maybe she was just that, but I would argue maybe Cortes really loved her.

  20. @amandaquezada2854

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    I really hope I'm not related to Cortes… I'm Spanish on my biological father's side, so you never know. But I can't imagine the shame that they would feel for anyone who is—he was a real piece of sh*t and I hope he got what was coming to him for all the evils that he committed towards his fellow human beings.

  23. @Alexxxxxxxxxxxxxx09

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    0:00: 🔥 Hernan Cortez, a ruthless Spanish conquistador, exploited Indigenous people and led to the downfall of a powerful empire.

    2:42: 🏛 Cortez learns about the Aztec Empire's political tensions and allies with the Tlaxcalans to conquer the city of Cholula.

    5:00: 🍽 Factor offers convenient and nutritious meals that are cheaper than takeout and faster than restaurant delivery.

    7:32: 🔒 Moctezuma, the captive ruler of the Aztecs, was trapped in an impossible situation and eventually perished.

    9:49: 🌍 Cortez's conquest of Tenochtitlan and his oppressive treatment of the Indigenous people were critiqued by his contemporaries.

    Recap by Tammy AI

  26. @TheNecessaryEvil

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    The Aztecs sacrificed adults and kids. I don’t care what Cortez did compared to that. Better to be a slave building a new Christian empire than having your heart cut out while you’re alive.

  28. @helidrill7464

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    John Wesley Powell would be a good episode. Civil war vet. Ran the Green River to the Colorado past the Grand Canyon in wooden boats with one arm to map the area.

  32. @tremorsfan

    August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    The Natives got a few good ones in too on occasion. In 1599, the Jivaro tribe executed the conquistadors by pouring molten gold down their throats.

Comments are closed.

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