- Initially met with friendly hospitality and an invitation from the Aztec emperor, Moctezuma, Cortes entered Tenochtitlan on November 8, 1519.
- Moctezuma offered accommodation and even gifts to the Spanish; a gesture that was later misunderstood by the invaders as a sign of feebleness.
Confronting the Spanish Forces
- Upon realizing the true intentions of the Spanish forces, the Aztecs launched a series of attacks in an attempt to expel the invaders.
- During one such attack on June 30, 1520, known as the “Noche Triste” (The Night of Sorrows), the Spanish suffered heavy losses and were forced to retreat from the city.
- Cortes, however, was determined to conquer the Aztecs and regrouped his forces, consolidating control over neighboring regions.
Establishing Alliances
- While reinforcing their military strength, Cortes pursued a strategy of forming alliances with various indigenous groups who were dissatisfied with Aztec rule.
- Through diplomacy and promises of liberation from Aztec domination, Cortes gained support from many surrounding indigenous nations, including the Tlaxcalans and Texcocoans.
The Siege of Tenochtitlan
- On May 26, 1521, Cortes initiated a full-scale siege of Tenochtitlan.
- The Spanish forces and their allies surrounded the city, cutting off its supply lines and subjecting it to relentless attacks.
- The siege lasted approximately 90 days, during which the Aztecs endured intense battles, starvation, and disease.
Defeat of the Aztecs
- Moctezuma, still considered the legitimate ruler by the Aztecs, eventually met his demise under uncertain circumstances – some accounts claim he was killed by his own people while others maintain that he was murdered by the Spanish.
- In the final conflict on August 13, 1521, the Spanish conquistadors, with their superior weaponry, artillery, and support from indigenous allies, breached Tenochtitlan’s defenses and claimed victory.
Additional Factors Contributing to the Spanish Success:
* Technological Superiority: The Spanish possessed advanced military technology, including guns and cannons, which proved devastatingly effective against the Aztecs.
* Divide-and-Conquer Strategy: Cortes successfully exploited existing conflicts and tensions among various indigenous groups, forming alliances and gaining their assistance against the Aztecs.
* Epidemics: European diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, decimated the native population, including the Aztec capital, further weakening their resistance.
Cortés' achievements on behalf of the crown resulted in his appointment as governor and captain general of New Spain. While his actions marked the beginning of Spanish rule over Mexico, they also initiated profound transformation and cultural exchange that shaped colonial Latin America.