Meanwhile Alvarado s situation in Mexico City was quickly becoming desperate. He had learned through the Tlascala that the Aztecs were planning on ceremoniously sacrificing the Spaniards during their celebration of Toxcatl, which was coming soon. Not wanting to fall victim to these heathens Alvarado recalled the battle at Cholula, where while vastly outnumbered Cortes lead a swift surprise attack and was able to achieve victory. So Alvarado and his men devised a plan, they would initiate an attack against the Aztec at their celebration. (Marks 161-163)
On the night of the celebration Alavardo and his men struck out against the Aztec. There attack against the Aztec in the courtyard left many of Mexico s nobility lying dead in the streets. Alavardo and his men were then able to retreat to their quarters where their position was defensible. On the third day there arrived a messenger from Cortes who was able to slip in and tell Alvarado of Cortes victory against Narvaez. The messenger was quickly sent back to appraise Cortes of the situation in Mexico. Upon hearing the news of Alavardo s position Cortes put together an expedition of thirteen hundred soldiers and hastily made his way to Mexico. There he found Alavardo who relayed to Cortes the details of the massacre. This attack on the Aztec did not bode well with Cortes, not because of Alvarado s actions but because Montezuma and his warriors had plotted against Cortes and his men. (Marks163-167)
Early the next morning Cortes sent out a messenger to tell the troops he had left on the coast of his safe arrival in Mexico City. The horseman was return a short time later bloodied by a brutal attack from the Aztecs. The rider then told Cortes that the bridges on the causeway had been lifted and the city sealed from escape. Then the Spaniard stronghold was under siege not by Montezuma s warriors but by those of Cuitlahuac, Montezuma s brother whom the Aztec had chosen to replace their disgraced monarch. Luckily for Cortes it was not the habit of the Aztec to conduct attacks at night, so while the Aztec rested Cortes and his men where able to make repairs to their damaged stronghold. However, Cortes now faced not only the warriors of Mexico City but those of the entire Aztec nation. Hoping that the Aztec s would still listen to Montezuma, Cortes had his men provide cover for the fallen leader of the Aztecs and made their way to the top of the pyramid. Once their Montezuma showed himself and loudly asked the Aztec to resume their peace with the Spaniards. The Aztec s answered Montezuma s plea with a hail of rocks and the once mighty leader of the Aztec nation fell dead. (Marks 166-169)
Finally in July 1520 Cortes had to come to the realization that his position in Mexico City had grown indefensible and it was now necessary for him and his men to escape the city. Cortes had his carpenters fashion a portable bridge that could be used to cross the gaps in the causeway and a plan to evacuate the city was made. Cortes amassed what was the king s portion of the treasure and had it mounted on a mare. Foolishly man soldiers especially the new ones over loaded themselves with gold a move that would cost many their lives. Then in the cover of darkness Cortes and his men made their way to the only causeway left open, unfortunately their escape was detected after the first gap and the alarm was given. Many Spaniards lost their lives that night and anytime a Spaniard would fall due to his heavy load he was quickly carried off by the Indians. The next day in the town of Tacuba Cortes would learn the cost of his retreat from Mexico City; nearly nine hundred soldiers had lost their lives that night, along with the loss of his troops Cortes also lost the all his cannons and every single horse had been wounded. Cortes himself had received a serious wound that crushed his left hand and rendered it useless as well as a wound to his knee. (Marks 170-171)
Tacuba was a town friendly to the Aztec so Cortes and his troops began to head toward the Tlascala City where they could recover. The Aztec hounded Cortes and his troops every inch of the way. Upon entering the Otumba valley Cortes found himself confronted by an army of Indians in massive proportions to his own troops. Never one to give up Cortes rallied his men and by the grace of God was able to drive off the Indians. The Aztec then gave up their pursuit of Cortes and his men who eventually found their way back to the Tlascala city. Their Cortes learned that the Tlascala had amassed a large army that was ready to wage war against the Aztec, it warmed Cortes heart to know he had not lost his allies. It was here that Cortes and his men would be able to remove their armor and spend two weeks resting and recovering from their wounds, although many would not recover and eventually succumb to their wounds. During their stay in the Tlascala city Cortes and his captains would often wonder why the Aztec army had not pursued them any further. It was only later that Cortes would learn the answer: that an epidemic of smallpox brought by one of Narvaez sailors was wrecking havoc on the Aztec nation. (Marks 172-191)
Then after recovering from their wounds Cortes and his men decide that in order for them to retain the respect of the Tlascala and Cholollan Indians Cortes must make an example out of the Tepeca. This was a tribe that pledged their loyalty to the throne but upon hearing the news of the war in Mexico City once again aligned them selves with the Aztec and had killed some Spaniards traveling from the coast. Cortes and his allies quickly defeated the Tepenac and as punishment for their crime Cortes had them branded and enslaved, which toi the Indians enslavement was the ultimate punishment. (Marks 191 195)
Soon supply ships began to arrive at Villa Cruz, no doubt by Velazquez who had figured Narvaez had been successful in arresting Cortes and asserting his authority. With the arrival of each ship Cortes and his men were able to enlist the crew after giving them a bit of gold. One day a large merchant from Spain arrived with powder and arms and cannons to sell. Cortes and his men quickly paid the man in gold and off loaded his cargo. Soon much need supplies were making their way up line and Cortes and his army were once again gaining strength. (Marks 196-197)
During the ensuing months Cortes and his men would enter into a number of scrimmages with the Aztec and their allies. Once again has it had been before, Cortes emerged from each battle victorious. Each battle that Cortes and his men would win would also win them the respect and allegiance of their allies. But Cortes never lost track of his plan to defeat the Aztec and capture Mexico City. Mexico City was the most glorious jewel of the Aztec nation and Cortes would no rest until he possessed it. It was to this end that Cortes in the presence of the Tlascala lectured his men on the behavior he expected of them. They were to treat the Indians fairly as well as no another and to never blasphemy the name of God. And so on December 28, 1520 Cortes and his Spanish troops accompanied by twenty thousand Tlascalan warriors began to make their way to Mexico City. The Aztec knew of Cortes march to their city but were unable to stop him. Cortes first target was the city of Texcoco, which he intended to secure and use as his base. Upon entering the city Cortes found it deserted, needing its inhabitants to care for his needs Cortes installed as king a young boy who was in his entourage and was of a royal bloodline of Texcoco. Soon the people where coming out of the woods to see this young man, they would stay and take care of Cortes and his men. (Marks 197 206)
Soon other chieftains from other villages were arriving at Texcoco to reassert their loyalty to Cortes and his army. One chieftain even brought to Cortes two Aztec messengers bound to poles. Cortes would once again revert to his old ways and sent these men back to Mexico City with a message. They were to tell Guatemoc, who now ruled the city, that Cortes understood that Cutilahuac led the previous attack against him and his men and Cortes only wished to restore the peace that existed between him and his brothers the Aztec. However, Cortes received no reply from the Aztec Monarch. During his stay in Texcoco Cortes received word the brigantines being built in Tlascala were complete and that another ship with powder had found its way to Villa Cruz. Cortes ordered that both these articles were to be brought to him immediately and they were along with thousands more Tlscalans. Cortes then had the ships assembled with out wasting time and a canal was dug to effect their launching (Marks 206 211)
Then after assembling a contingent that include thirty thousand Tlscalans Cortes marched on Tacuba, where he was met with Aztec opposition. Cortes drove the Aztecs back across the causeway and they retreated to their city. Cortes then spent the next few months securing the cities and villages that surrounded the Aztec capital there by isolating the Aztec and severing her supply lines. Then after months of preparations Cortes would begin his assault on the Aztec capital. But this time Cortes would launch his assault from the ships he had erected as well as on the causeways and at the city gates. This time Cortes assault on the Aztecs was slow and methodical, Cortes wanted to ensure he would emerge victorious against these traitors. Each day Cortes and his troops would march into the city as far as they could then withdraw. The Aztecs were beginning to fell their isolation as food and water supplies were running low. And so with each new day Cortes and his troops were Able to advance further and further into the city. The Aztec had concentrated themselves in the market place and it was here they would make their final stand. (Marks 213-242)
The Aztecs were able to defend their position against a coordinated attack by Cortes. They then climbed atop the great pyramid and sent up yellow smoke to declare their victory. During this onslaught Cortes would suffer great casualties and many Spaniards were being taken alive. The Aztec then took their Spanish captives and in a lengthy ceremony sacrificed each and everyone in plain view of the Spaniards as well as their allied Indians. This spectacle carried on for thirteen days and cost seventy Spaniards their lives. After a brief round of unsuccessful peace talks the invasion of Mexico City would be resumed. This time as Cortes entered the capital it would be destroyed. Cortes then pushed through the Aztec capital making his way to the market place where the Aztec warriors had gathered once again. Cortes and his troops then launched an attack on the last strong hold of the Aztec and in that battle, twelve thousand Aztec warriors, women and children were killed. Again Cortes offered the Aztec several chances to make peace but each offer was met with refusal. Another assault of the Aztec s final stronghold was made, this time the Aztecs surrendered without condition and the fall of the Aztec empire was complete Mexico fell to the Spaniards in August of 1521. (Marks 242 255) The glory that once was the crown jewel of the Aztec empire lay in ruin.
Cortes proved to be a true soldier of not only the king but of Christ. He was a talented and artful commander that truly believed God had blessed him and his troops. He was also a crafty negotiator who could read his opponent very well and seemingly win his way every time. Cortes also proved to be a fair man who would treat his allies and his enemies with great respect as well as a man who sought peace whenever possible. Often when faced with adversity Cortes would emerge triumphant because not only was he brave but because he truly believed in his mission to conquer and Christianize Mexico. It was through his perseverance and his ability to negotiate that he and his men were able to conquer this new land and claims its soil and riches in the name of God, Spain and of course themselves. And so it was through the conquest of Mexico that Cortes would earn his spot in the pages of history, perhaps as the greatest Conquistador whom ever lived.
Works Cited
500 Nations Mexico The Rise and Fall of the Aztecs. By Jack LeustigProd. Ralp Tornberg, Bernd Eichinger. Viedocassette. TIG, 1994
Diaz, Bernal. The Conquest of New Spain. Trans. J.M. Cohen. Aylesbury: Hazell, 1963
Marks, Richard Lee. Cortes The Great Adventurer and the Fate of Aztec Mexico. New York: Knopf, 1993
Sahagun, Bernardino de. Book 12 General History of the Things of New Spain. Trans. Arthur J. O. Anderson and Charles Dibble. The School of American Research, Santa Fe, 1951-69
Verano, John W., Douglas H. Ubelaker. Health and Disease in the Pre-Columbian World. The Seeds of Change: Essays. Edited: Herman J. Viola, Carolyn Margolis. United States: Smithsonian, 1991
Viola, Herman J. The Seeds of Change. The Seeds of Change: Essays. Edited: Herman J. Viola, Carolyn Margolis. United States: Smithsonian, 1991
Walsh, Jane MacLaren Yoko Sugiura. The Demise of the Fifth Sun. The Seeds of Change: Essays. Edited: Herman J. Viola, Carolyn Margolis. United States: Smithsonian, 1991