Defeat of the Aztecs

Question 1

Ransom of Montezuma

Answer 1

• Cortes’ expedition entered the city, watched by thousands of onlookers
• 3000 Tlaxcalans went in with the Spanish
• Montezuma came to meet Cortes carried by 4 nobles and made a welcome speech
• Cortes was given a necklace of golden crabs and Montezuma was given a necklace of Venetian glass beads
• Montezuma treated the conquistadors like royalty. They were houses in his fathers place, given magnificent clothes to wear and feasted off gold plates
• After 2 weeks the Spanish outnumbered and isolated felt overwhelmed
• Cortes requested an audience with Montezuma
• Cortes seized him and said that anyone who opposed the Aztecs would be publicly killed and fed to the dogs
• They forced Montezuma to aft as a puppet ruler, where the Spanish told him how to rule
• 1520, Montezuma declared his alliance to King Charles and gave treasure to the Spanish
• People of Tenochtitlan were angry when a crucifix was placed onto the Great pyramid and a mass took pace on the summit

Question 2

Expulsion of the Spanish from Tenochititlan

Answer 2

• April 1520, about 1000 Spaniards landed on Vera Cruz. They were not there to support Cortes, they were there to take him prisoner and assert Velazquez
• Cortes flight the span sibs and won , many of the Spanish changed sides in support of Cortes
• In Tenochtitlan, Cortes’ deputy Alvarado was afraid that the Aztecs would attack the Spanish
• He ordered the Spanish to massere the Aztecs whilst they were enjoying a festival
• Aztec warriors attacked the Spanish and Tlaxcalans
• Montezuma appealed for eace under Cortes’ orders and spoke to his people but he was killed
• 30th June and night 1520, the Spanish secretly tried to escape, they were caught and the Aztecs killed 1/2 of the Spaniards and 1000 Tlaxcalans
• Much of the treasure was lost and the battle became known as La Noche Triste
• Cortes regrouped with Tlaxcalans, over 900 had died and many of Cortes allies made alliances wit naive tribes who were prepare to ally with the Spanish
• They began the Siege of Tenochtitlan