Is the Aztecs mistook Hernan Cortes for the god Quetzalcoatl?

Yes, the Aztecs initially mistook Hernán Cortés for the god Quetzalcoatl due to a prophecy suggesting that the god would return from the east. This belief was fueled by Cortés's arrival in 1519, coinciding with the timing of the prophecy. The Aztecs, facing internal strife and the potential for divine intervention, may have seen Cortés’s arrival as a fulfillment of their religious expectations, which contributed to his initial reception in Tenochtitlán. However, this perception quickly changed as Cortés's true intentions became clear.