conquest
/ˈkɒŋkwəst/noun
The act of defeating an enemy and taking control by force.
Example sentences
- “The museum traces the island's history before and after the conquest.”
- “The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire took only two years.”
The Norman Conquest of 1066 is the fixed historical reference. Applied to romance, 'his latest conquest' now sounds cold or predatory.