Conquering the Aztec.

In less than two years, Hernando Cortes defeated the mighty Aztec empire

Who is this strange-looking bearded creature? That's what the Aztec Indians wondered when they first saw Hernando Cortes (kawr-TEHZ).

Cortes landed in Mexico in 1519, with his army of conquistadors (kahn-KEES-tuh-dawrz), or conquerors. An Aztec legend promised the return, in that same year, of an ancient god who would arrive from the east.

Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor, believed at first that Cortes might be this god of legend, and gave him lavish gifts. But Montezuma soon changed his mind.

Hungry for fame and adventure, Cortes had come in search of gold and new territory for Spain. He also hoped to convert the Aztec--who worshiped many gods and practiced human sacrifice--to Christianity.

The Aztec greatly outnumbered Cortes and his men. Yet through amazing boldness and determination, Cortes defeated the mighty Aztec army in less than two years.

How did Cortes do it? Here is the story of his conquest, as written by his faithful soldier, Bernal Diaz. (The words in quotes are by Diaz. [*])

Unwelcome Strangers

On February 18, 1519, Cortes set sail from Cuba with 500 men and 11 ships. He landed on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula (see map), where he hoped to find ancient cities rumored to be filled with gold and silver.

Cortes and his men were attacked by 40,000 Potonchan natives. Although greatly outnumbered, Corte's army managed to defeat them. As Diaz wrote:

"They rushed on us like mad dogs and completely surrounded us, discharging

such a rain of arrows, darts, and stones upon us that more than 70 of our men were wounded at the first attack. With our muskets and crossbows and good sword-play, we put up a stout fight, and once they came to feel the edge of our swords they gradually fell back, but only to shoot at us from greater safety."

Montezuma soon learned what had happened. He sent messengers with wonderful gifts for Cortes. But he also sent word that he would not meet Cortes. Montezuma did not want the Spaniards to enter Tenochtitlan (tay-nahk-tee-TLAHN), the Aztec capital. But the gifts made Cortes even more eager to find the source of such wealth.

"The first [gift] was a disk in the shape of the sun, as big as a cartwheel and made of very fine gold. There was another, larger disk of brightly shining silver in the shape of the moon. ... [A messenger] also brought back [a] helmet full of small grains of gold, just as they come from the mines.... It proved to us there were good mines in the country."

On the March

As Cortes and his army marched toward Tenochtitlan, they encountered many groups of people who had been conquered by Montezuma. Many hated the Aztec. One group, the Tlascala, became allies of the Spaniards.

"In speaking of [Montezuma's] great strength, they gave vent [release] to such tears and sighs that Cortes and the rest of us were moved to pity. Before describing the way they had been brought into subjection, they told us that every year many of their sons and daughters were demanded of them for sacrifice, and others for service in the houses and plantations of their conquerors."

Cortes tried to convert the Tlascala to Christianity, as he did all the Indian peoples he conquered.

"Cortes [told them] that he wished to do the will of our Lord God, in whom we believe and whom we worship, and to perform the task for which our Lord had sent us, which was to make them give up their idols [objects of warship] and cease to kill and sacrifice human beings ... and believe as we believe in the one true God."

An Amazing City

Despite attacks by Montezuma's soldiers, Cortes marched on toward the Aztec capital. At first, the Aztec emperor refused to meet with Cortes But in November, Montezuma allowed Cortes to enter the city. The Spaniards were astonished by what they saw.

"With such wonderful sights to gaze on, we did not know what to say, or if this was real that we saw before our eyes. On the land side there were great cities and on the lake many more. The lake was crowded with canoes. At intervals along the causeway there were many bridges, and before us was the great city of Mexico."

A Daring Move

Montezuma provided food, lodging, and expensive gifts to appease (satisfy) Cortes and his 500 soldiers. But Cortes did not trust Montezuma. When news came that Aztec soldiers had attacked a Spanish outpost, Cortes decided to take Montezuma prisoner. As Cortes told the Aztec leader:

"1 have no desire to start a war on this account, or destroy this city. Everything will be forgiven, provided you will now come quietly with us and make no protest .... But if you cry out, or raise any commotion, you will immediately be killed by these captains of mine, whom I have brought for this sole purpose." Cortes took Montezuma prisoner and tried to rule the Aztec empire through him. But later, while Cortes was away, a Spanish soldier killed several Aztec who were performing a religious ceremony. Infuriated, the Aztec rebelled and drove the Spanish from Tenochtitlan.

"These battles lasted all day and during the night, too. Many bands attacked us, hurling javelins, sling-stones, arrows, and stray stones in such numbers that they covered the courtyard and the surrounding ground like corn on a threshing floor....

"Not one of us, they shouted, would remain alive that day.... Those of us who escaped only did so by the grace of God."

From Empire to Rubble

Montezuma was killed in the battle. Driven from the city, Cortes and his soldiers planned another attack against the Aztec capital and its new leader, Cuauhtemoc (know-TAY-moc). On June 30, 1521, Cortes and his army laid siege (a prolonged attack) to the Aztec capital.

"I solemnly swear that all the houses and stockades in the lake were full of heads and corpses.... We could not walk without treading on the bodies and heads of dead Indians.... Indeed, the stench was so bad that no one could endure it."

Cuauhtemoc surrendered on August 13. Cortes set fire to the deserted city, and tore down all the buildings that were left standing. The city disappeared beneath 30 feet of rubble mixed with human bones.

"When the news spread through all these distant provinces that Mexico [City] was destroyed [they] could not believe it.... They all carried great presents of gold to Cortes, and even brought their small children to show them Mexico, pointing it out to them in much the same way that we would say: 'Here stood Troy.'"

Cortes built a new capital on the ruins of Tenochtitlan and named it Mexico City For the next 300 years, Spain ruled Mexico and much of Central America. By the end of the 16th century, Spain's entire economy depended on the riches of the New World.

To reward Cortes for his victory, King Charles I of Spain appointed him governor of the newly conquered territory, named New Spain. Cortes later expanded his conquests into Central America. In 1540, he returned to Spain, where he died penniless on December 2, 1547. His remains were sent back to Mexico.

(*.) From The New Conquest of Spain by Bernal Diaz, translated by J.M. Cohen. Copyright [C] 1963 by J.M. Cohen. Reprinted by permission of Penguin Putnam Inc.