Aztec Invasion

Cortes sails for Mexico from Cuba

Feb 15, 1519

This was important because it showed Cortes' determination to explore Mexico

The Tlaxcalans ambushed the Spanish

Jun 1, 1519

The Tlaxcalans had tried to ambush the Spaniards but because of there guns, steel armor and, horses the Spaniards easily won, forcing the Tlaxcalans to from an alliance

Cortes recruited many men

Jul 1, 1519

Knowing that he could not conquer and entire nation with only 500 men. Hernan Cortes formed many other alliances with tribes that also did not like the Aztecs. They were very intrigued by their new technology and weapons.

Cortes meets Moctezuma

Nov 8, 1519

Cortes had entered Tenochtilan with a fearful reputation, but when Moctezuma finally met Cortes he treated him as a god unaware if he was one or not

Cortes takes Moctezuma hostage

Nov 15, 1519

Although Moctezuma could have killed Cortes with a snap of his fingers. He did not, giving Cortes an opening to take him hostage. They changed all the Aztec religious statues to Spanish ones. That had casued the Aztec civilization to feel let down by Moctezuma they had called him weak and hee had deserted them.

Velazquez steps in

May 15, 1520

Because Cortes had broken the law and was deemed a traitor Velazquez, governor of Cuba sent men to Verazruz to kill Cortes. Cortes left Tenochtilan in the hands of Pedro de Alvarado. During that time The Aztecs had made preparations for their annual festival. Alvarado and his soldiers massacred 6000 men. The Aztecs were furious so they kill Alvarado and his men. When Cortes returned he had to retreat his palace away from the centre of the city. Any chance of a peaceful agreement was gone

Noche Triste

Jun 18, 1520

When the Spanish came back, they had seen all of their men had been killed. They reached the Palace and persuaded Moctezuma to retreat the attack, but his people would not he was pelted with rocks and died later. At night the Spaniards had tried to escape in the middle of the night with stolen gold but the Aztecs had discovered and killed about 3700 people. This night was known as The Sorrowful Night

Epidemic Hits

Oct 20, 1520

Cortes and some of his men were still alive, but had to retreat because they were wounded. They had went into hiding for aobut 5 months. Meanwhile the disease of smallpox was spreading in the Aztec society . The Spainsh had encountered this disease for along time and had immunity to it the Aztec, however did not. This disease wiped away half off their population

Conquest Has Suceeded

Aug 13, 1521

When Cortes had came back to the Aztec society. They could not defend against them because of almost half of their population dead, makeing them an easy target. Cortes blocked any food or water from entering the city, causing many more to die. The standing emperor Cuauhtemoc was hanged. The last citizens of the Aztec society had surrendereed. Aztec Society was no more. They had destroyed the city and everything in it. No one coould hide or escape

Governor Hernan Cortes

Feb 19, 1522

Cortes had been named governor and captain general of New Spain. He has also got 1/12 of the riches of the Aztec society