The Aztecs were a powerful empire based in Tenochtitlan who practiced human sacrifice of prisoners in their religious rituals. Their emperor Moctezuma enjoyed drinking chocolate. The Aztecs fought battles with the invading Spanish led by Hernan Cortes, but were ultimately defeated after contracting European diseases, with Cortes destroying their capital Tenochtitlan and taking many slaves. The invention of milk chocolate later improved the taste of the popular cocoa drink.