The fall of Tenochtitlan is an important event in the history of the Americas as it marks the end of the Aztec Empire. This event took place on August 13, 1521 and was the result of a three-month long siege. However, it may be argued that the Spanish were not really the masters of Mexico upon completing this task, and they would only achieve this status some decades later.
Despite the Aztec Empire coming to an end, local resistance continued outside Tenochtitlan, which would take the Spanish about 60 grueling years to completely suppress. Hence, the fall of Tenochtitlan is often regarded as the end of the first phase of the Spanish conquest of Mexico .
Attack of the Spanish-Tlaxcallan forces with Malinche and Cortés. Depicted by the Spaniards’ Tlaxcallan native allies. 1773 Reproduction from 1584 original version of the Lienzo de Tlaxcala. ( Public Domain )
Hernán Cortés and Moctezuma II
The fall of Tenochtitlan took place about two years following Hernán Cortés’ arrival in Aztec territory. Cortés’ expedition had arrived in Mexico in the early part of 1519, and by the end of the same year the Spanish had laid their eyes on Tenochtitlan for the first time. When the conquistadors arrived in Tenochtitlan, it was one of the largest cities in the world. It has been estimated that during that period, only a handful of cities could match its size.
Cortés and his men were initially well-received by the Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II . It has often been said that the Aztecs treated the conquistadors well as a result of a prophecy. According to this prophecy, one their gods, Quetzalcoatl, would return to Mexico. The Spanish are said to have arrived at the right time and from the right direction for them to take advantage of this belief. Moreover, the prophecy is said to have described Quetzalcoatl as fair-skinned and bearded.
Tenochtitlan, Entrance of Hernan Cortes. Cortes and La Malinche meet Moctezuma II. November 8, 1519.
Tenochtitlan, Entrance of Hernan Cortes. Cortes and La Malinche meet Moctezuma II. November 8, 1519. ( Public Domain )
However, it has been argued that this story was a post-conquest invention, and that the Aztecs were aware that the Spanish were mortals, and not gods.
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Fighting Back
In any event, when the Spanish first landed, Moctezuma is said to have sent gold to the Spanish as a gift. It has been suggested that the Aztec ruler was hoping that these gifts would appease these foreigners and make them leave. Instead, Cortés and his men were hungry for more, and decided to press on to Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma greeted the Spanish warmly and gave them more gold. In return, Cortés took Moctezuma as his prisoner and tried to rule the city in his place.
The Aztecs were not at all pleased with this, and wanted to expel the Spanish from their city. In April 1520, a rival conquistador arrived in Mexico, and Cortés left the city to deal with him. It was during Cortés’ absence that relations between the Spanish and the Aztecs deteriorated rapidly, culminating in an Aztec revolt . When news reached Cortés, he rushed back to Tenochtitlan, though it was to no avail, as the Spanish were successfully expelled by the Aztecs during the La
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