Spanish and The Aztecs Timeline

Cortes and Velázquez in a expedition.

Feb 17, 1519

In 1518 Velázquez put Cortes in a expedition to explore and secure Mexico for colonization. However he backed off after in 1519. Cortes ignored this and set sail from cuba to explore mexico. This event showed Cortes's determination for exploring Mexico. Cortes left with armed forces around 11 ships, 500 men 13 horses and a few cannons.

Cortes lands in Yucatan Peninsula

Feb 20, 1519

Cortes Lands in the Yucatan Peninsula. Here he encounters Geronimo de Aguilar, a Spanish Franciscan priest who had survived a shipwreck and had learned the mayan language. Cortes took advantage of this and takes him along in the expedition as a transalator. This event shows how Cortes is able to persuade people.

Cortes claims land for the crown and defeats the natives in Tabasco

Mar 4, 1519

In March 1519, Cortes claimed the land for the Spanish crown. He stopped in Trinidad to hire more soldiers and obtain more horses. Then he went to Tabasco, where he came in contact and won a battle against the natives. He received twenty young women from the defeated natives and he converted them all to Christians. one of these women were La Malinche, his future lady and mother of his child. she knew both the Nahuatl and Chontal Maya, an advantage for cortes. this event showed cortes's family.

Cortes Enters Tenochtitlan

Nov 8, 1519

By the time he arrived in Tenochtitlan the Spanish had a large army. On November 8, 1519, they were peacefully received by Moctezuma II. Moctezuma let Cortés enter the Aztec capital, the island city of Tenochtitlan, hoping to get to know their weaknesses better and to crush them later. This is where cortes starts. The Aztecs think that Cortes is their god who has returned so instead of killing him they welcome him.

Cortes comes in conflict with Velasquez's men

Apr 9, 1520

Meanwhile, Velasquez sent another expedition, led by Pánfilo de Narváez, to oppose Cortes, arriving in Mexico in April 1520 with 1,100 men. Cortes left 200 men in Tenochtitlan and took the rest along to defeat the men Velasquez had sent. This Event shows that by now Cortes had lots of power.

Cortes Flees for Tlaxcala

Jun 9, 1520

In Mexico, one of Cortes's lieutenants Pedro de Alvarado, committed The massacre in the Main Temple, which created a rebellion. Cortés returned to Tenochtihlan very fast. On July 1, 1520 Moctezuma was killed (the Spaniards claimed he was stoned to death by his own people; other claim he was murdered by the Spanish once they realized his inability to placate the locals). Faced with a hostile population, Cortés decided to flee for Tlaxcala.

The End of The Aztecs

Aug 13, 1521

The last group of Aztecs were taken prisoner and hanged.Huey Tlatoani was taken prisoner and was hanged. This event showed how the Aztecs came to an complete end.

Cortes is awarded

Jan 1, 1522

The spanish destroyed the city badly. knocked down pyramids and temples,ripped down palaces and homes and set houses on fire so no one can hide.They filled rubble in the causeways so no one can escape by water.In less than three years Cortes became a governor and captian-general of New Spain.

Cortes Returns

May 9, 1528

In 1528, Cortés returned to Spain to appeal to the justice of his master, Charles V. Juan Altamirano and Alonso Valiente stayed in Mexico and acted as Cortés' representatives during his absence. Cortés presented himself with great splendor before Charles V's court. By this time Charles had returned and Cortés forthrightly responded to his enemy's charges. he denied he had held back on gold due the crown,he had done more than the quinto required. This event showed cortes's defeat so far.

Cortes back to Tenochtitlan

May 9, 1531

Cortes had the island surrounded and he was here to accomplish his task. Half the population died from smallpox that the Eruopean brought over.Many also died from hungar because lots of people were sick and coundn't find food for them. This Event showed cortes's so called victory

The Aftermath

May 9, 1531

Cortes defeated everyone the aztecs were gone he destroyed tenochtitlan, he accomplished what he needed but he had to destroy all of his hard work he had that pain in the back of his head. He had to overcome that pain.