La CAÍDA de TENOCHTITLAN: Fin del imperio Mexica

Key Concepts:

• Hernán Cortés: Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Mexica Empire.
• Tenochtitlan: Capital city of the Mexica Empire, modern-day Mexico City.
• Moctezuma: The ruler of the Mexica Empire at the time of the Spanish arrival.
• Viceroyalty of New Spain: The Spanish colony established after the conquest of the Mexica Empire.
• Tlaxcala: An autonomous state and a fierce enemy of the Mexica, allied with the Spanish.
• Toxcatl: An annual festival in honor of the god of war Huitzilopochtli.
• La Noche Triste (The Sad Night): The night of July 1, 1520, when the Spanish and their allies suffered heavy losses while fleeing Tenochtitlan.
• Cuauhtémoc: The last Tlatoani (ruler) of the Mexica Empire.
• Smallpox: A disease that devastated the indigenous population, weakening their ability to resist the Spanish.

1. Spanish Arrival and Initial Interactions (1519):

• April 1519: Hernán Cortés lands on the coast of Mexico at Veracruz with approximately 450 soldiers. He was sponsored by Diego de Velázquez, the governor of Cuba.
• Cortés establishes contact with tribes resentful of Mexica dominance, defeating some and gaining their loyalty.
• Moctezuma sends nobles with gold jewelry as gifts, which further motivates the Spanish.
• November 8, 1519: Cortés and his troops enter Tenochtitlan and are received amicably by Moctezuma, who lodges them in his palace.

2. Cortés's Strategy and Control over Moctezuma:

• Cortés, along with captains Pedro de Alvarado, Gonzalo de Sandoval, Velázquez de León, and Diego de Ordaz, recognizes the compromised situation and decides to arrest Moctezuma.
• Moctezuma is taken captive without resistance, and other lords are also detained.
• Cortés uses Moctezuma to control the Mexica, ordering the collection of tribute and asserting Spanish authority.
• Moctezuma's authority wanes as his people begin to turn against him.

3. Arrival of Pánfilo de Narváez and Cortés's Response:

• Governor Velásquez sends Pánfilo de Narváez with 19 ships, over 800 soldiers, 20 guns, 80 horsemen, and 80 harquebusiers to capture Cortés for insubordination.
• May 27, 1520: Cortés ambushes Narváez's camp with a small force of around 300, taking Narváez hostage and securing his surrender.
• Cortés divides Narváez's forces with promises of wealth in Tenochtitlan, integrating them into his army.

4. The Massacre of Toxcatl and its Aftermath:

• Pedro de Alvarado is left in command of Tenochtitlan with 80 soldiers, including 14 harquebusiers.
• During the annual festival of Toxcatl, Alvarado, fearing a Mexica attack, orders a massacre of the unarmed participants.
• The Spanish close all escape routes and brutally execute the attendees, estimated to be 8,000 to 10,000 nobles and warriors.
• This massacre ignites a rebellion among the Mexica.

5. Death of Moctezuma and La Noche Triste:

• Cortés returns and asks Moctezuma to calm his people, but Moctezuma is attacked by his own people, who see him as complicit with the Spanish.
• Moctezuma is mortally wounded by stones and arrows and dies shortly after.
• The Spanish and their allies are encircled in the palace with little food.
• July 1, 1520 (La Noche Triste): The Spanish attempt to flee Tenochtitlan towards Tlacopan, suffering heavy losses.
• The Spanish lose over 860 soldiers and thousands of native allies. Francisco López de Gómara estimates 450 Spaniards and 4,000 allies died.

6. Mexica Leadership and Reorganization:

• Cuitláhuac is elected as the new Tlatoani after Moctezuma's death and begins to enlist troops and seek alliances to fight the Spanish.
• Cuitláhuac's reign is cut short by smallpox after 80 days in November 1520.
• Cuauhtémoc is elected Tlatoani on February 2, 1521.

7. Cortés's Preparations for the Siege of Tenochtitlan:

• Cortés rebuilds alliances with the Tlaxcaltecas and other tribes subjugated by the Mexica.
• Cortés plans to trap the Mexica inside Tenochtitlan by increasing his mobility on the lake.
• He orders the construction of 13 brigs under shipowner Martín López and retrieves sunken boats and supplies from Veracruz.

8. The Siege of Tenochtitlan (May-August 1521):

• May 1521: Cortés and his coalition army besiege Tenochtitlan.
• Alvarado's forces march to Chapultepec to cut off the city's water supply.
• The Spanish attempt to advance over the causeway in Tlacopan but are initially defeated.
• Cortés creates an opening in the road to use his brigs, allowing him to send forces and supplies to previously inaccessible areas.
• The Spanish gain control over Tenochtitlan, and famine affects the Mexica.
• Cuauhtémoc organizes a large-scale attack on Alvarado's forces in Tlacopan, but the Mexica are repelled.
• Tributary states join Cortés, contributing food, workers, and supplies.

9. Final Assault and Fall of Tenochtitlan:

• The Mexica face increasing difficulties as the Spanish control rooftops and attack from buildings.
• The majority of the city's population retreats to Tlatelolco.
• Cortés sends emissaries to invite the Tlatelolcas to join his side, but they remain loyal to the Mexica.
• The town of Texcoco, previously loyal to the Mexica, falls into Spanish hands.
• August 13, 1521: Alvarado, Olid, and Sandoval's armies push to the market of Tlatelolco, gaining control of much of the city.
• Cuauhtémoc attempts to escape but is captured.

10. Aftermath and Establishment of the Viceroyalty of New Spain:

• Cuauhtémoc is later hanged.
• The Spanish bring Mesoamerica under their rule and establish the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
• Smallpox continues to devastate the indigenous population, paralyzing their ability to resist.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The fall of Tenochtitlan on August 13, 1521, marked the end of the Mexica Empire and the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in Mesoamerica. Hernán Cortés's strategic alliances, military tactics, and exploitation of internal divisions within the Mexica Empire, combined with the devastating impact of diseases like smallpox, led to the Spanish conquest. The events detailed highlight the complex interplay of military conflict, political maneuvering, and cultural clashes that shaped the early history of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.