Mexico's History: The Spanish Conquest

The Aztec empire reached its height in the early 16th century, under Emperor Moctezuma.   That was also the time that Spanish adventurers were swarming by the hundreds to the West Indies, following the discovery of the Americas in 1492 by Christopher Columbus.

The first contact with Mexico occurred in 1517, when explorer Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba landed on the Yucatan coast. A subsequent expedition by Juan de Grijalva confirmed a land dominated by a powerful people who were hated by those forced to pay tribute to them. The Spanish governor of Cuba, Diego Velazquez, then sent a larger force under Hernan Cortez, with instructions to trade with the inhabitants. Cortez had more ambitious plans, however, and after landing on the coast of Veracruz, in 1521, made his way to Tenochtitlan, (today, ruins of the Templo Mayor archaeology site) the centre of power of the Aztec empire, which was built in the middle of a lake.

Using a mixture of terror and persuasion, Cortez gained allies during his march toward Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma received the Spanish with honours, fearing that they may be gods, according to an ancient prophecy.

Problems began when Cortez had to leave the city to meet a Spanish force sent by Velazquez to arrest him. When he returned, the Aztecs were fighting to expel the Spanish. Cortes made Moctezuma go onto the roof of the palace to tell his people to withdraw, but the Aztec chief was received with a barrage of stones, wounding him. He died several days later, and under the warlike leader Cuitlahuac, the Aztecs continued their fight against the invaders.

The Spanish attempted to escape one night, known as the Noche Triste (sombre night). They were discovered as they crept along one of the roadways that led out of the city, and a fierce battle ensued in which Cortez lost many of his men. Cortez took refuge with his Tlaxcalteca allies. In June 1521, Cortez started the final assault on Tenochtitlan armed with small ships to use on the lake, and with thousands of local Indian allies.

By August he had captured the city, and made a prisoner of the new Aztec leader Cuauhtemoc. Cuitlahuac had died in an outbreak of smallpox which decimated the local population.

Next:The Colonial Era