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With soliders, sailors, and Cuban natives and 16 horses, Hernan Cortes disobeys orders from Cuban govenor Diego Velazquez and sets sail to Mexico. This event was inportant because it showed Cortes' determination to explore Mexico.
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After a short battle against the Spaniards, the Tlaxcalan begin to see the Spaniards as allies in their want to overthrow the Aztec's brutal rule. This alliance proved to be significant to the Spaniards and relations with the Tlaxcalan were very good.
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Cortes holds Moctezuma II hostage under the pretense of attacks back in Veracruz. He demands a massive amount of gold ransom that is paid. The nobility and people of Tenochtitlan feel suppressed and start to support the brother of Moctezuma II, Cuitláhuac but don't take action.
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An arresting party led by Panfilo de Narvaez was sent to Mexico by Governor Velazquez with orders to capture Cortes and take him back to be trialed and possibly hanged for his actions. They first landed on San Juan de Ulúa on the Mexican coast.
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With Moctezuma II dead, Cortes decides that it's no longer safe in Technotitlan and attempts to escape by heading to the west. He takes as much gold and riches as he can as he leads his army to escape.Right before they left the city though, the army was spotted. The fighting was brutal and vicious with the Spaniards losing estimately 5000 people, thogh the Aztec casualties were much lighter.
