The Conquest ANTH 221: Peoples and Cultures of Mexico Kimberly Martin, Ph.D.
The Arrival Hernan Cortez sailed from Cuba on and against orders from Diego Velasquez, Governor of Cuba Landed on Cozumel and rescued Geronimo de Aguilar who spoke the Maya language Landed on Good Friday, April 21, 1519 at what is now Vera Cruz 11 ships, 550 men, 16 horses Traveled along the coast gathering allies against the Aztec
La Malinche Cortez was given 20 maidens by a Maya Ruler at Pontonchon including Malintzin She was baptized Marina (Dona Marina) Malintzin spoke Maya and Nahuatl and worked with Aguilar to translate Malintzin became Cortez’s mistress and bore him a son Was considered a traitor for betraying her people to help Cortez
Cortez and Dona Marina
Strategies Moctezuma sent gifts and messages with warnings about the dangers of the trip inland, hoping Cortez would go home. Cortez sent the gifts with letters to Spain (circumventing Cuba) and disabled his ships Used alliance with Totonacs & Tlaxcalans who opposed the Aztecs Attacked and took Cholula Marched into Tenochtitlan in November 1519 Moctezuma received him as an honored guest and/or a god
More Strategies Cortez took Moctezuma prisoner in the royal quarters Left to fight and defeat Spanish troops sent to arrest him by Velasquez in Cuba Brought defeated troops back as his own In his absence, his lieutenant, Alvarado, attacked the Aztecs, triggering revolt Cortez sent Moctezuma to roof to calm the crowd The crowd stoned Moctezuma to death Spaniards were driven out of the city with many casualties
A Second Try Cortez retreated and built a fleet of small boats to use in the next attempt The Aztecs were weakened by European disease January 1521 Cortez launched a new attack by water, cutting off the city to food and fresh water. Tenochtitlan held during an 80 day seige Aztec Emperor Cuauhtemoc surrendered the city on August 13, 1521