The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs

Cortes sails from Cuba

Feb 17, 1519

With around 600 men (soldiers, sailors, Cuban natives) and 16 horses, Hernan Cortes disobeys orders from Cuban govenor Diego Velazquez and sets sail to Mexico.

Arrives at the Yucatan Peninsula

Mar 4, 1519

Cortes arrives at the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and quickly takes over the villages over there. Although he doesn't discover any significant wealth, he does find himself two translators: Geronimo de Aguilar and a maiden named Malintzin.

Alliance with the Totonacs

Apr 1, 1519

After his arrival at the present day state of Veracruz, Cortes quickly gains the alliance of the Totonacs, a tribe wishing to rebel against the rule of the Aztecs.

Landing at Veracruz (NOT EXACT DATE)

Apr 6, 1519

Sometime in April, Cortes and his forces land in present-day Veracruz.

The Sinking of Cortes's Ships (NOT EXACT DATE)

May 1, 1519

Contrary to popular belief, Cortes sunk, not burned, his ships to ensure the loyalty of his army. He left one small ship to transport wealth back to Spain.

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.

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

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.

Massacre at Choula

Oct 12, 1519

Being a highly religious centrepoint, Choula did not a have a great fighting force to defend themselves against the invading Spaniards. After a cold welcome and the discovering plans to kill the Spaniards, Cortes punishes the city by murdering their nobility and setting the city on fire. This attack on nobility rose fear in other city states and groups, which might explain why they willingly joined the Spaniards.

Arrival at Tenochtitlan

Nov 8, 1519

After a brief stopping at Axayacatl, Cortes and his men arrive at one of the largest cities in the world at that time, the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. There he was greeted by Moctezuma II who pledged himself to King Charles of Spain. Cortes quickly demaded more gold and the taking down of Aztec worship centres.

Taking Moctezuma II Hostage

Nov 14, 1519

Cortes holds Moctezuma II hostage under the pretense of attacks back in Veracruz. He demands a massive amount of gold ransom that is paid. The nobility and people of Tenochtitlan feel suppressed and start to support the brother of Moctezuma II, Cuitláhuac but don't take action.

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.

Massacre at the Patio of Gods

May 20, 1520

Moctezuma and his people held the annual festival of Toxcatl to worship and praise their god in hopes of luck during the dry season.
For many debatable reasons, Pedo de Alvarado ultimately ambushed the festival and slaughtered a number of the most important people of the upper classes.

Cortes' Sneak Attack

May 27, 1520

Taking only a small group of men and leaving Pedro de Alvarado in charge of Tenochtitlan, Cortes leaves to confront an arresting team looking to capture him. He manages to capture their leader during a sneak attack in the middle of night and convinces the rest of the men to join his forces in hopes of wealth and gold.

The Aztec Revolt

Jun 24, 1520

After the Massacre at the Main Temple, the horrified Aztecs finally revolt against the Spaniards. With Cortes hurrying back to Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs cut off all supplies to the Spanish and procceded to trap them inside the city. Cortes then tried to make Moctezuma II appeal to his people, but he no longer had any power over the Aztecs and died soon after due to debatable reasons.

La Noche Triste

Jun 30, 1520

With Moctezuma II dead, Cortes decides that it's no longer safe in Technotitlan and attempts to escape by heading to the west. He takes as much gold and riches as he can as he leads his army to escape.Right before they left the city though, the army was spotted. The fighting was brutal and vicious with the Spaniards losing estimately 5000 people, thogh the Aztec casualties were much lighter.

Battle of Otumba

Jul 7, 1520

Cortes' plan is to reach safety in Tlaxcala, but on the way he and his army are plauged with Aztec attacks. The climax of these battles occured on the plain of Otumba valley.
Although the Spanish army was considerably outnumbered by the 30,000 strong Aztec force, this was the first time that the Aztecs ever encountered horses in battle. Another key factor in the Spaniard's victory was the immediate killing of the Aztec general that caused great unrest between the troops.

Smallpox Epidemic (NOT EXACT DATE)

Period: Oct 25, 1520 to Dec 10, 1520

Most probably carried by one of Cortes' men, it was smallpox that no doubt had a major part in Cortes' victory over the Aztec empire. Being an Old World disease, the Aztecs had absolutely no natural defenses against the virus and the results were devastating.
An estimated 40% of the entire population in a span on one year. This disease epidemic also brought along mass famine and malnutrition due to the vast amount of people who died.