Final answer:
Hernán Cortés arrived in the Aztec Empire with initial peaceful intentions but ended up taking Emperor Moctezuma hostage, resulting in an uprising and the eventual destruction and conquest of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Hernán Cortés arrived in the Aztec Empire, he was initially received peacefully by Emperor Moctezuma II, who according to some accounts believed Cortés and his men were part of a prophecy. Cortés was supposed to establish peaceful relations and trade, but instead, he took Moctezuma hostage and later, his forces attacked participants in an Aztec religious ceremony.
This led to an uprising in Tenochtitlán and the death of Moctezuma. Eventually, Cortés fled the city, returned with reinforcements, including native allies who disliked Aztec rule, and after a deadly siege, conquered the capital, razed it, and founded Mexico City on its ruins.