If montezuma thought of hernan cortes as quetzalcoatl then he would have treated him with an exceptional amount of respect and fear. In 1519, the spanish conquistador hernan cortes arrived on the outskirts of tenochtitlan, the capital of the mighty aztec empire. Montezuma, king of the aztecs, ruled over 15 million people when cortes arrived with a few hundred spanish soldiers and cuban porters. Cortes faces montezuma on the great causeway leading to tenochtitlan. Historian restall of pennsylvania state university has delivered an exhaustively researched, forcefully argued and compelling reconsideration of the conquest of mexico.
British museum unmasks who really killed aztec leader this article is more than 11 years old. The reason why montezuma, or motechzoma, the way scholars call him, welcomed hernan cortes to his empire was because the aztecs believed he hernan cortes was the sun god returning from his. Tenochtitlan, located near todays mexico city, had more than 140,000 inhabitants at its height, and. He also helped colonize cuba and became a governor. Spanish conquistadors and the stolen treasure of montezuma. Jul 26, 2014 in 1519, the spanish conquistador hernan cortes arrived on the outskirts of tenochtitlan, the capital of the mighty aztec empire. In october of 1519, spanish conquistadors led by hernan cortes assembled the nobles of the aztec city of cholula in one of the city courtyards, where cortes accused them of treachery. Find a detailed account of how spanish captain hernan cortes conquered the aztec capital of tenochtitlan and earned his fearsome reputation. The conquistadors is a fourpart series airing on pbs in spring 2001. In three short years, the capital city of tenochitilan was destroyed, and emperor montezuma ii was dead. The author makes a good case that montezuma collected animals of all descriptions including unusual people. The spanish conquest of the aztec empire, also known as the conquest of mexico or the.
Cortes headed for the aztec capital, tenochtitlan, which was a threemonth journey over difficult terrain. Cortes had heard of the aztecs and knew that they, and their leader montezuma ii, were a primary force in mexico. Emperor moctezuma ruled the aztec when cortes first arrived in. Hernan cortes was the spanish conquistador responsible for conquering the aztec empire and building mexico city which secured spains position in the new world. Mar 26, 2019 8 november 1519, cortes faces montezuma. Montezumas zoo in tenochtitlan was an aztec paradise filled with amazing animals, beautiful plantsand even humans. After a threemonth siege, spanish forces under hernan cortes capture. Cortes worked to develop farms throughout new spain, or mexico. With superior firepower, 600 spaniards, a dozen horses, and thousands of native allies, hernan. The aztec people, however, resented the emperors frequent demands for tribute and.
The name of hernan cortes 14851547 and the controversy surrounding him are linked to the conquest of mexico, which was the most important event of his life. The personalities of moctezuma and cortes must be considered. Hernan cortes, king montezuma, and the last stand of the aztec is the riveting and vivid account of cortes and his brutal conquest of the aztec empire in 1519 1521. Hernan cortes, spanish conquistador who overthrew the aztec empire 151921 and won mexico for the crown of spain. Oct 10, 20 montezuma, or more correctly, motecuhzoma ii xocoyotzin aka moctezuma or angry like a lord was the last fully independent ruler of the aztec empire before the civilizations collapse at the hands of the spanish in the early 16th century ce. Guns, germs, and horses brought cortes victory over the mighty aztec empire. This is the story of one of the most momentous events of the spanish conqu. He entered tenochtitlan, the aztec capital home to ruler montezuma ii, on november 8, 1519. Mar 18, 2020 montezumas zoo in tenochtitlan was an aztec paradise filled with amazing animals, beautiful plantsand even humans. Thousands of pounds of gold, jewels, artwork, and silver were stolen along with the way. Montezuma very graciously welcomed cortes to his city, and cortes answered with great respect, adding many thanks for all the mexicans gifts.
On november 8, 1519, the spanish conquistador hernando cortes first met montezuma, the aztec emperor, at the entrance to the capital city of tenochtitlan. Many are familiar with the popular tale of the meeting between emperor moctezuma and conquistador hernan cortes. Martin luther began the reformation in 1517, and two years later, on the other side of the world, 34yearold hernan cortes landed in central america in 1519. Cortes could not restore order, and the spanish were starving, as the market had closed. Hernan cortes was an explorer who eventually defeated the aztec people and brought mexico under spanish rule.
Spanish conquistador hernan cortes leads an expedition to bring down the aztec empire during the 16th century. The key to cortess conquests lay in the political crisis within the aztec empire. Theory 1 montezuma ii believes that cortes is a god there was an aztec prophesy that stated that the god, quetzalcoatl would arrive at the year 1519, the exact year that hernan cortes arrived at tenochtitlan. The empire came to dominate central mexico and by the ascendance of montezuma ii in 1502 had reached its greatest extent, extending as far south as perhaps. It has been said that to the aztec emperor, montezuma ii, cortes and his men were regarded not as mortals, but gods. The spanish claimed montezuma died at the hands of his own people. It has been said that to the aztec emperor, montezuma ii, cortes and.
The meeting of aztec emperor montezuma ii and hernan cortes and the events that followed weigh heavily in mexico half a millennium later. The relationship between montezuma ii and hernan cortes. He came from a fairly famous family and his father was a captain in the spanish army. As montezuma approached, cortes threw his reins to a page and dismounted, and with a few of his chief men went forward to meet the emperor. Cortes said many other things very well expressed, which they would report them to their prince montezuma. Moments later, cortes ordered his men to attack the mostly unarmed crowd. Cortes, montezuma, and the fall of old mexico, page 176. But while cortes was hardheaded and viewed things as they were, moctezuma believed in magic and superstition. While cortes held tenochtitlan through montezuma, a spanish force from. Another new feature involves seeing montezuma as a collector. But how does this compare to what the historical record tells us. Montezuma, king of the aztecs, ruled over 15 million people when cortes arrived with a.
In this lesson, students read from two 16th century sources and one contemporary historian. Aug 03, 2019 in the early sixteenth century a force of hundreds overcame an empire of millions. Outside of town, cortes tlaxcalan allies also attacked, as the cholulans were their traditional enemies. Cortes conquistadors had the mixed motives of god, glory and gold. Mar 23, 2018 the personalities of moctezuma and cortes must be considered.
He initially studied law but left university to make his fortune in the americas. What do we really know about moctezuma ii also called montezuma, the aztec emperor who met hernan cortes and saw the start of an incredible clash of civilizations. During cortess absence, alvarados execution of many aztec chiefs enraged the people. Montezuma ii, ninth aztec emperor of mexico, famous for his dramatic confrontation with the spanish conquistador hernan cortes. Narrative letter by hernan cortes world digital library. The king of spain sent other rulers to new spain to aid cortes. When montezuma ii was born circa 1466, the aztec empire spread to presentday honduras and nicaragua.
Matthew restalls when montezuma met cortes delivers a blow to the. Cortes meets montezuma cortes letters 8th november. The major civilisation in the region was that of the aztecs, led by montezuma ii. Born around 1485, hernan cortes was a spanish conquistador and explorer who defeated the aztecs and claimed mexico for spain. In the early sixteenth century a force of hundreds overcame an empire of millions. Moctezuma and cortes stanford history education group.
The despatches of hernando cortes, the conqueror of mexico, addressed to the emperor charles v. Hernan cortes conquers the aztec empire national geographic. Montezuma, or more correctly, motecuhzoma ii xocoyotzin aka moctezuma or angry like a lord was the last fully independent ruler of the aztec empire before the civilizations collapse at the hands of the spanish in the early 16th century ce. The spaniards called this new area they had claimed new spain. For centuries scholars have puzzled over the man what he thought, what drove him, why he made the decisions he did. As it goes, moctezuma mistook the spanish invaders for gods, thereby setting the stage for the conquest of the aztec empire. His parents wanted him to become a lawyer and sent him to school to study law when he was fourteen. When montezuma couldnt get the aztecs to accept cortes as their leader, cortes had montezuma. Catch up with the latest trailers, including the green knight, the personal history of david copperfield, and the. The spaniards and their allies flee tenochtitlan on the night of tears. Once cortes and the other spaniards arrived in his capital, he may well have decided to add them to his collection. Montezuma was killed in the fightingin aztec reports by the spaniards, and in. Spanish leader hernan cortes, an obscure career soldier from the castilian badlands, and montezuma, the ruler of the aztec triple alliance. Less than a week later, he seizes the aztec ruler and takes control of the city.
With montezuma dead, cortes took over the aztecs capital city. The spaniards and their allies flee tenochtitlan on. Taking the position of tlatoani, meaning speaker, in 1502 ce he would rule as an absolute monarch until 1520 ce, during which time he. Hernan cortes invaded mexico in 1519 and conquered the aztec. Sep 29, 2017 hernan cortes was a spanish conquistador, or conqueror, best remembered for conquering the aztec empire in 1521 and claiming mexico for spain. The two great men looked at each other with a keen interest. Cortes ordered montezuma to reopen the market, but the emperor said that he could not because he was a captive and no one listened to his orders anymore. The key to cortes s conquests lay in the political crisis within the aztec empire. Dec 31, 2018 cortes returned to a palace under siege.