Page 45 - All About History - Issue 12-14

FALL OF THE AZTECS

How the most powerful

civilisation in South

America was brought to

its knees by a Spanish

conquistador driven by

desire for gold and riches

Written by Robin Brown

ernán Cortés was well acquainted Having set sail from Cuba in February 1519,
with danger: he had faced turbulent by April, Cortés’ expedition was in big trouble.
and angry seas on journeys, men who His men were disgruntled at the prospect
wanted to kill him and probable exile. of heading inland by hundreds of miles, in
HHis daring move to claim ancient apparent contradiction of their original terms of
Mexico for himself had put him in direct conflict engagement, and openly discussed mutinying.
with erstwhile friend and governor of Cuba – the They wished to return to the relative comfort of
nearest Spanish settlement – and he faced a long, Cuba from their temporary base at what would
arduous and potentially lethal combination of become the port of Veracruz. However, their
conditions on the road to Tenochtitlan, capital of leader had literally and metaphorically mortgaged
the mighty Aztec Empire. everything he owned to reach the Yucatán
Ruled by Moctezuma II, Tenochtitlan was the peninsula. Nothing will dissuade him from
base of power of the Aztec Empire, stretching marching to Tenochtitlan and the wealth, power
from coast to coast and ruling over a vast number and destiny he believed was his to claim. To this
of indigenous people. The Aztecs controlled a end, Cortés committed one of the most audacious
huge territory and enormous mineral wealth, acts in military history.
vital strategic coastlines and countless slaves, Knowing that while his fleet remained in
using networks of spies loyal to Moctezuma who Veracruz there was a chance that his men could
watched over the various native groups that paid rebel and return to Cuba, ending his dreams of
fealty to the Aztec ruler. To conquer the Aztecs, conquest and riches, Cortés scuttled his entire
Cortés had to overcome the most feared soldiers fleet – literally sinking his only connection with
on the continent – previous expeditions to South the Spanish colonies, supplies and reinforcements.
America had returned with grisly and horrifying The realisation that they were stranded in a hostile
stories of human sacrifice. and remote land struck fear into the heart of the
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