What happened when Cortez and his soldiers first arrived in the Aztec. Capital of tenochtitlan
When Cortez and his soldiers first arrived in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1519, they were initially welcomed by Emperor Moctezuma II. The Aztecs believed that Cortez could be the returning god-king Quetzalcoatl due to the similarities between the Spanish and Aztec legends.
Moctezuma II invited Cortez and his troops into the city and offered them gifts. The conquistadors were astonished by the grandeur and beauty of Tenochtitlan, which was one of the largest and most populous cities in the world at the time.
However, their initial peaceful interactions quickly turned hostile as the Spanish began to exhibit their intentions of conquest. Cortez took Moctezuma II hostage in his own palace in an attempt to control the Aztec empire. The conquistadors also began to exploit and oppress the Aztec people, demanding gold and other precious treasures.
This led to growing resentment among the Aztecs towards the Spanish. Eventually, the conflict escalated into a full-scale war when Cortez and his troops left Tenochtitlan to face a rival Spanish expedition led by Pánfilo de Narváez. In their absence, the Aztecs revolted against the Spanish occupation.
When Cortez returned to Tenochtitlan, he found the city in open rebellion. The Aztecs laid siege to the Spanish forces, forcing them to retreat to a small area within the city known as the Templo Mayor. The siege lasted for months, and the Spanish suffered from lack of food and constant attacks.
Ultimately, Cortez and his men managed to escape the city during the Noche Triste ("Sad Night") in June 1520. They were pursued by the Aztecs, leading to a decisive battle at the Battle of Otumba, where the Spanish emerged victorious.
Cortez returned with reinforcements in 1521, and after a prolonged siege, Tenochtitlan fell to the Spanish. The city was largely destroyed, and the Aztec civilization was eventually replaced by Spanish colonial rule. The conquest of Tenochtitlan marked the end of the Aztec Empire and the beginning of Spanish dominance in Mexico.