Cortes' Rule over The Aztecs

Cortes sets sail to Mexico

Feb 19, 1519

1519- February 19, cortes sets sail to Mexico because he wanted to gain glory and fame

Cortes lands on the coast of Mexico

Mar 4, 1519

Velazquez recalled the commission which he had granted to Cortes, and even ordered him to be put under arrest; but the attachment of the troops, by whom he was greatly beloved, enabled him to persevere in spite of the governor; and on the 4th of March 1519 he landed on the coast of Mexico.

Cortes sets sail from Cuba

Apr 21, 1519

April 21, 1519--the year Ce Acatl (One Reed) by Aztec reckoning-- marked the opening of a short but decisive chapter in Mexico's history. On that day a fleet of 11 Spanish galleons sailing along the eastern gulf coast dropped anchor just off the wind-swept beach on the island of San Juan de Ulúa. Under the command of the wily, daring Hernán Cortés, the vessels bore 550 Spanish soldiers and sailors, as well as 16 horses, the first of the species to tread the American continent.

Tlaxcalan Alliance.

May 20, 1519

After a short battle against the Spaniards, the Tlaxcalan begin to see the Spaniards as allies in their want to overthrow the Aztec's brutal rule. This alliance proved to be significant to the Spaniards and relations with the Tlaxcalan were very good.

Marches into Tenochtitlan

Jun 30, 1519

1519- Sails from the Yucatan peninsula and marched to Tenochtitlan

Villa Rica de Vera Cruz and Meeting Representatives

Jul 10, 1519

It was soon after the founding of Villa Rica de Vera Cruz did the Aztec King Moctezuma II send representatives to greet the Spaniards. This meeting proved a failed clash of the two different cultures

Tlaxcalans attack the Spanish

Jul 15, 1519

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

Arrival at Tlaxcalan Capital

Sep 18, 1519

With their strong alliance to the Tlaxcalan people, Cortes arrives at the Tlaxcalan capital for the first thime. The alliance between the two grew stronger wtih the Tlaxcalan helping the Spaniards to recover with supplies and the Spaniards succesfully winning the lotalty of the elder leaders

Cortes Arrives in Tenochtitlan

Nov 8, 1519

Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlan on November 8, 1519, where he took up residence welcomed by Moctezuma. When news reached Cortés of the death of several of his men during the Aztec attack on the Totonacs in Veracruz, he took the opportunity to take Moctezuma captive in his own palace and ruled through him for months.

Montezuma is taken prisoner

Nov 15, 1519

Cortes captures Montezuma and takes him as prisoner so that he could obtain more power

An Arresting Party Arives

Apr 20, 1520

An arresting party led by Panfilo de Narvaez was sent to Mexico by Governor Velazquez with orders to capture Cortes and take him back to be trialed and possibly hanged for his actions. They first landed on San Juan de Ulúa on the Mexican coast.

The Spanish massacre thousands of Aztecs

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.

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.

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).

Montezuma dies

Jun 29, 1520

Montezuma dies during the fight between the Aztecs and the men of Cortes. However, it is still a mystery who killed him, some say its the Aztecs, while others say its the Spainiards, they said the spainiards killed him when they thought he was of no more of use.

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 8, 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 gains power over Mexico

Nov 27, 1521

The emperor, emperess , the ministers and whole court were in his power.

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.