1. Initial Contact and Alliances:
Cortés initially arrived in Mexico in 1519 and established alliances with various indigenous groups, particularly the Totonacs, who resented the Aztec rule. These alliances provided him with essential military support and local knowledge.
2. Moctezuma's Response:
Upon learning of Cortés' presence and intentions, the Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II, attempted various strategies to dissuade him from advancing towards Tenochtitlan (the Aztec capital). Moctezuma tried diplomacy, gifts, and even threats, but Cortés remained resolute in his pursuit.
3. Clash and Capture:
As Cortés and his forces advanced towards Tenochtitlan, tensions escalated. Moctezuma decided to invite Cortés into the city, hoping to control his movements. However, Cortés' aggressive tactics and the capture of Moctezuma in November 1519 turned the situation in favor of the Spanish.
4. Rise of Cuauhtémoc:
Following Moctezuma's capture, the Aztecs chose Cuauhtémoc as their new leader, who organized fierce resistance against the Spanish forces. Cuauhtémoc's leadership instilled renewed determination to defend Tenochtitlan against the encroaching conquistadors.
5. La Noche Triste:
In June 1520, Cortés attempted a surprise attack on the Aztecs but faced strong resistance and heavy losses. This event is known as La Noche Triste (The Night of Sorrows) and resulted in the Spanish forces suffering significant casualties and retreating.
6. Siege of Tenochtitlan:
Cortés regrouped and laid siege to Tenochtitlan in May 1521. He built ships and blockaded the city, cutting off its supply lines. The siege was exceptionally brutal and characterized by fierce battles and widespread destruction.
7. Fall of Tenochtitlan:
After two months of intense siege, Cortés finally breached Tenochtitlan's defenses in August 1521. Cuauhtémoc surrendered to the Spanish, and the city fell. The fall of Tenochtitlan and the capture of Cuauhtémoc marked the end of the Aztec Empire.
8. Conquest of Mexico:
With the conquest of Tenochtitlan, Cortés consolidated his control over central Mexico. Over the next few decades, the Spanish expanded their rule and established New Spain, which encompassed most of the former Aztec Empire and vast regions of North America.
Cortés' actions resulted in the decimation of the Aztec civilization, the imposition of Spanish colonial rule, and the introduction of European diseases, beliefs, customs, and institutions that profoundly and irrevocably changed the course of history in Mexico.