Conquering The Aztecs
Valazquez had actually cancelled Cortés' trip at the last minute because he was suspicious. Cortés went anyway. He was later tracked down and was attempted to be brought back for mutiny. But Hernán still got away.
Cortés led up to 11 ships and some 500 men to Mexico in early 1519. They quickly met several natives who they befriended. Others they did not. One of the tribes gave the conquistadors a group of women as their reward and Cortés met La Malinche who could translate for Cortés. Cortés renamed her Dona Marina. Dona Marina told Cortés all about the riches of the Aztecs. It was then that Cortés made an appointment to meet with the Aztec ruler, Montezuma. Montezuma repeatedly turned him down. So Cortés set out to Tenochtitlan on foot with his men and allies.
Along the way, Cortés became allies with the Tlaxcala who despised the Aztecs. They also ran into the Cholula tribe who definitely preferred the Aztecs over Cortés and his men. To say the least, there were a lot of casualties (over 3,000).
Finally Cortés and his men arrived in Tenochtitlan and met Montezuma. At first they were treated like gods because of the Aztecs prophecy of "White Gods from the East." But the Aztecs became wary of the white men and the gifts that they had been given only made them want more. So Montezuma was captured and held hostage within the city. Only in 1520, Spanish soldiers came to Tenochtitlan to arrest Cortés for disobeying orders. Cortés fled and the soldiers destroyed most of Tenochtitlan. When Cortés returned, they killed Montezuma (how is unclear) but it was the beginning of a short but very effective battle.
In the end, the conquistadors triumphed and in 1521, Cortés claimed the land for Spain and renamed it Mexico City as well as appointing himself the governor.
Cortés led up to 11 ships and some 500 men to Mexico in early 1519. They quickly met several natives who they befriended. Others they did not. One of the tribes gave the conquistadors a group of women as their reward and Cortés met La Malinche who could translate for Cortés. Cortés renamed her Dona Marina. Dona Marina told Cortés all about the riches of the Aztecs. It was then that Cortés made an appointment to meet with the Aztec ruler, Montezuma. Montezuma repeatedly turned him down. So Cortés set out to Tenochtitlan on foot with his men and allies.
Along the way, Cortés became allies with the Tlaxcala who despised the Aztecs. They also ran into the Cholula tribe who definitely preferred the Aztecs over Cortés and his men. To say the least, there were a lot of casualties (over 3,000).
Finally Cortés and his men arrived in Tenochtitlan and met Montezuma. At first they were treated like gods because of the Aztecs prophecy of "White Gods from the East." But the Aztecs became wary of the white men and the gifts that they had been given only made them want more. So Montezuma was captured and held hostage within the city. Only in 1520, Spanish soldiers came to Tenochtitlan to arrest Cortés for disobeying orders. Cortés fled and the soldiers destroyed most of Tenochtitlan. When Cortés returned, they killed Montezuma (how is unclear) but it was the beginning of a short but very effective battle.
In the end, the conquistadors triumphed and in 1521, Cortés claimed the land for Spain and renamed it Mexico City as well as appointing himself the governor.