Aztec Timeline

Cortes sails for Mexico from Cuba

Feb 1, 1519

This was important because it showed Cortes' determination to explore Mexico

Tlaxcalans attack the Spanish

Jul 15, 1519

The Tlaxacalan attack the spanish in summer 1519 but they fought back with guns and steel amour

Tlaxcalans form alliance with the Spanish

Aug 15, 1519

The Tlaxacalan decides to join the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs

Moctezuma and Cortes meet

Nov 8, 1519

Montezuma and the Cortes finally meet and addressed him as if he was a god

Cortes takes Moctezuma hostage

Nov 15, 1519

Cortes replaced the Statue where Moctezuma was staying with Roman Catholic Saints. Moctezuma's advisors were disguted set up statue of spanish religion. They felt they had got let down and diminushed there reputation

The Spanish massacre thousands of Aztecs while preparing for their religious festival

May 15, 1520

Cortes and his men had stay six months and the Spanish government sent men to arrest Cortes and his men for disobeying his orders.The Aztecs start to prepare for there main annual festive honoring the gods.The Spanish attack the Aztecs during the festive but the Aztecs fought back ferociously that the Spanish had to retreat.

Moctezuma dies

Jun 1, 1520

Moctezuma was ordered to let the Spanish return in peace but was jeered and hurled with rocks and died a few days later

The Spanish attempt to escape from Tenochtitlan but are stopped by the Aztecs - later referred to as the Noche Triste

Jun 15, 1520

At night the Aztecs discovered that the Spanish was escaping, so the Aztecs attacked from all sides, even in the water with canoes. Many of the Spanish were carring stolen gold so they coundn't move quickly.Unwilling to give up the gold. Many were killed.Later the Spanish referred this as the Noche Triste (Sorrowful Night).

The Aztecs begin to die from smallpox

Nov 15, 1520

half the population died from smallpox that the Eruopean brought over.Many also died from hungar because lots of people were sick and coundn't find food for them

The Spanish form a second attack on the now weakened Aztecs

Jan 1, 1521

After regrouping the Spanish start the attack with a the Tlaxacalans and the warriors of the Texcoco that had been a triple alliance.Now turned against the Aztecs. The had no allies and defending against the became more difficult.

The last group of Aztecs surrender

Aug 13, 1521

The last group of Aztecs were taken prisoner and hanged.Huey Tlatoani was taken prisoner and was hanged.

Cortes becomes governor and captain-general of New Spain

Jan 1, 1522

The spanish destroyed the city badly. knocked down pyramids and temples,ripped down palaces and homes and set houses on fire so no one can hide.They filled rubble in the causeways so no one can escape by water.In less than three years Cortes became a governor and captian-general of New Spain.