Montezuma II and the siege of Tenochtitlan
Cortes and his men arrived at Tenochtitlan on November 8th 1519, there are different stories telling that the Aztecs thought of the spaniards as the representatives of the god Quetzalcatl but many also say the aztecs knew the Spaniards to be of the same blood and both mortal . They entered the city and were greeted with gifts of gold by the Aztec ruler, Montezuma II. Cortes captured Montezuma II in hope of using him to control the Aztecs and demanded ransom of more gold. However, the Aztecs were not controlled by Montezuma. Cortes was unaware of the Aztec ruling system and how another ruler could be easily chosen if the Aztecs rebelled. Also Montezuma was starting to lose his authority for the Aztecs as he was readily complying with Cortes' every demands and relaying them to the aztecs.
Meanwhile Governor Velasquez has assembled a force and has landed his ships in Mexico in an attempt to take back Cortes after he took off without permission. Cortes soon found out of the governor coming to capture him and set out with approximately 300 of his men after the governor. Cortes ambushed the governor's troops that were planning to capture him and took the governor captive.
Meanwhile back in Tenochtitlan a man by the name of Pedro de Alvarado has been left in charge of the men in Tenochtitlan. The Spaniards have been invited to one of the Aztec' s festivals, the festival of Toxcatl. Here Alvarado's men attacked the unarmed Aztecs and there are many different theories on why they did. Some say it was because Alvarado wanted to strike the Aztecs without their weapons (Portilla,M., n.d.), whereas some others suggest that it was because of the reaction to the human sacrifices. Up to 10 000 Aztecs were killed and every Spaniard was either killed or injured. 20 days after Cortes left for the coast he returned with more men and was let into the city in peace, but as soon as they entered the city they were attacked (Portilla,M., n.d.). The Spaniards were driven back into the palace and were trapped inside the city. They were not supplied with any food and the bridges were raised.
Late one rainy night called the Noche Triste or Sad Night, the Spaniards and their allies attempted their escape from the city. When the Spaniards were near freedom they were spotted and a huge battled occurred. Cortes sent Montezuma to try and convince the Aztecs to stop fighting, but they did not listen and Montezuma was killed. Some people say that the Aztecs stoned Montezuma to death and others say that the Spaniards murdered him, either way Montezuma II had been killed (New World Encyclopedia, 2013). The Spaniards escaped, but with only a minority of the men of which they had started with.
In Tenochtitlan one of the slaves from Cuba had been abandoned in the city. The slave had smallpox and the Aztecs who were not as immune to the disease as the Spanish were struck badly in the city. The result was a smallpox epidemic that lasted 60 days (New World Encyclopedia, 2013). The Spanish also gave the Aztecs blankets infected with the disease. After the Aztecs had been weakened Cortes attacked them with new ships and men. Cortes also destroyed the ships entering the city slowly starving out the Aztecs of supplies and food.
On August 13 1521, the Aztecs finally surrendered and the Spanish looted the entire city and killed many of the remaining population. Cortes called Tenochtitlan New Spain (Cortes, H., 1520). Hernan Cortes brought back 7,000 tons of plunder back to Spain.
Meanwhile back in Tenochtitlan a man by the name of Pedro de Alvarado has been left in charge of the men in Tenochtitlan. The Spaniards have been invited to one of the Aztec' s festivals, the festival of Toxcatl. Here Alvarado's men attacked the unarmed Aztecs and there are many different theories on why they did. Some say it was because Alvarado wanted to strike the Aztecs without their weapons (Portilla,M., n.d.), whereas some others suggest that it was because of the reaction to the human sacrifices. Up to 10 000 Aztecs were killed and every Spaniard was either killed or injured. 20 days after Cortes left for the coast he returned with more men and was let into the city in peace, but as soon as they entered the city they were attacked (Portilla,M., n.d.). The Spaniards were driven back into the palace and were trapped inside the city. They were not supplied with any food and the bridges were raised.
Late one rainy night called the Noche Triste or Sad Night, the Spaniards and their allies attempted their escape from the city. When the Spaniards were near freedom they were spotted and a huge battled occurred. Cortes sent Montezuma to try and convince the Aztecs to stop fighting, but they did not listen and Montezuma was killed. Some people say that the Aztecs stoned Montezuma to death and others say that the Spaniards murdered him, either way Montezuma II had been killed (New World Encyclopedia, 2013). The Spaniards escaped, but with only a minority of the men of which they had started with.
In Tenochtitlan one of the slaves from Cuba had been abandoned in the city. The slave had smallpox and the Aztecs who were not as immune to the disease as the Spanish were struck badly in the city. The result was a smallpox epidemic that lasted 60 days (New World Encyclopedia, 2013). The Spanish also gave the Aztecs blankets infected with the disease. After the Aztecs had been weakened Cortes attacked them with new ships and men. Cortes also destroyed the ships entering the city slowly starving out the Aztecs of supplies and food.
On August 13 1521, the Aztecs finally surrendered and the Spanish looted the entire city and killed many of the remaining population. Cortes called Tenochtitlan New Spain (Cortes, H., 1520). Hernan Cortes brought back 7,000 tons of plunder back to Spain.