Spanish Conquest of Aztec Empire

The Spanish, led by conquistador Hernán Cortés, overthrew the Aztec Empire between 1519 and 1521.

Bad Omens

The Aztecs had experienced a number of ominous omens during the reign of King Montezuma II. These signs, in accordance with Aztec theology, indicated that something negative was about to occur. Eight unfavourable signs were later noted by a Spanish missionary.

• Fire in the sky
• The Huitzilopochtli temple was destroyed by fire.
• One of their temples was struck by a lightning strike.
• Over the sea, they observed fire.
• It looked like a lake was boiling.
• At night, they overheard a woman sobbing.
• Some fishermen caught a weird animal.
• There was a man with two heads.

Hernán Cortés’s entry into Mesoamerica

In April 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his soldiers set foot on the Mexican shore. To welcome the Spanish, Montezuma II sent Cortés gifts of gold and chocolate. Montezuma II had little faith in Cortés, but he was also concerned that Cortés might be the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl. According to Aztec belief, Quetzalcoatl would become a man and appear on Earth, and Cortés had come on Quetzalcoatl’s birthday.

With about 500 troops, 16 horses, and a few cannons, Cortés arrived. He established the village that would grow into the city of Veracruz. He also started getting to know the locals. He travelled with Dona Marina, an American Indian woman who served as his interpreter. The Totonac and the Tlaxcalans were two of the native tribes with whom Cortez formed partnerships.

Travels to Tenochtitlan by Cortés

Cortés started his march inland in the direction of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec Empire’s capital. Along the way, he forged agreements with various people and conquered other cities. His closest allies were the Tlaxcalans. Because the Aztecs had plundered their cities in search of victims to offer to their gods, they detested them.

Cortés resumed his march despite attempts by Montezuma II to stop him from reaching Tenochtitlan in its entirety. Along the route, he destroyed Cholula, an important Aztec religious centre.

Arrival of Cortés in Tenochtitlan

Finally reaching Tenochtitlan, Cortés was greeted with presents and invited inside. Cortés’ potential status as a deity continued to worry Montezuma. Eventually, the two sides’ tensions reached a breaking point, resulting in a brawl. Montezuma was taken prisoner by Cortés and his men.

The death of Montezuma II

During his incarceration, Montezuma II was slain at some point. His death and the reason for it are still unknown to historians, but when he passed away, Spanish soldiers made an attempt to leave Tenochtitlan. Nearly two-thirds of the men perished as the Aztecs attacked them as they fled.

Conquest of the Aztecs by Cortés

Cortés was able to leave Tenochtitlan with some of his soldiers. To combat the Aztecs, he recruited a sizable troop of indigenous people, notably the Tlaxcalans. He went back to Tenochtitlan and besieged it. He finally took possession of the city and finished capturing the Aztec Empire after three months of fighting.

Facts about the Conquest of the Aztecs by the Spanish

Before proceeding to Tenochtitlan, Cortés sank his fleet out of fear that some of his crew would steal his ships and desert him.

Cuauhtemoc was chosen by the Aztecs to succeed Montezuma II as their new ruler. Later, Cortés had him put to death.

Smallpox, influenza, and malaria were among the illnesses the Spanish brought to the Aztecs, which severely debilitated them. Over time, these illnesses claimed the lives of almost 80% of residents of the Valley of Mexico.

On the remains of Tenochtitlan, Cortés built the city of Mexico. It is currently one of the biggest cities in the world and the capital of Mexico.

“La Noche Triste” or “The Sad Night” is a common name for the night Cortés and his troops managed to flee Tenochtitlan.