Page 46 - All About History - Issue 12-14
P. 46
FALL OF THE AZTECS
conquistadors, but Cortés was wages were not enough for Cortés. A
resolute, telling them to believe MOCTEZUMA II second expedition departed in 1518
in him but allowing the men Aztec, 1466 – 29 June 1520 but when the leader failed to return
Getting a head to make for home in the one Moctezuma, whose on time, Velásquez ordered a third
Warriors wore clothes returning ship if they desired. name meant, ‘he is expedition to Mexico. Ignoring the
reflecting their military Brief one who frowns like
group. The more None wished to return home, Bio ill omens of this and focusing on
decorated the clothing, won over by Cortés’ eloquence a lord’, was tall and the first expedition, which returned
the more decorated well-proportioned.
the warrior; Jaguar and sheer daring. With the Descended from royalty, he with gold and slaves, Cortés sensed
warriors would wear success of this incredible gamble, ruled through fear and was his chance, mortgaged everything he
the whole skins of worshipped as a deity by many
jaguars. Eagle warriors Cortés couldn’t have known that of the people across the empire. owned and volunteered to finance
bore feathers from the Written records tend to portray
great birds. while he had ensured Moctezuma as indecisive, weak the journey himself.
his expedition’s success and naive but historians cast Hungry for success and the wealth
he had also doomed the doubt on the accuracy of these and power that triumphing over the
famous Aztec Empire. reports. In truth, little is known Aztec nation with its huge resources
One of the most powerful about the Aztec leader, with would bring, Cortés feverishly
much of the information about
nations on the Earth, Cortés’ him contradictory. prepared for his new endeavour.
Spain had already made He initially enjoyed the backing of
several forays into Central and South America by Velásquez but, as the journey neared, the Cuban
the early-16th century. Cuba and the Dominican ruler came to suspect Cortés of planning to seize
Republic had been conquered by 1519 the new world in his own name. He was not
Killer darts and in the previous two years many mistaken in his suspicions. Cortés had no intention
The atlatl was a long dart mounted expeditions to Mexico had been of remaining loyal to Velásquez, who sent an
on a longer length of wood,
propelled by a flipping motion with sanctioned by Diego Velásquez de official government messenger to let the Spaniard
devastating speed and range, up Cuéllar, a friend of Cortés. know he was being relieved of his command;
to 180m (600ft). Stronger and
faster than an arrow, they were Cuba had been conquered and as Cortés simply had the messenger killed. Velásquez
devastating to other natives but of Velásquez named its first governor, then ordered local officials in Havana to stop the
limited use against Spanish armour.
Cortés was rewarded with land on conquistador, yet the men sent to prevent the
the island and made a magistrate journey ended up volunteering for the expedition,
of Santiago. However, the meagre buying into Cortés’ vivid promises of riches and
Tenochtitlan
The city was connected to the
mainland by causeways leading
Clubbed to death north, south, and west. These
The macahuitl was a close-contact causeways had bridges that allowed
weapon consisting of an oak staff canoes to pass freely underneath
studded with flint or volcanic and the bridges could be pulled
rock and used at close quarters away to defend the city. While
in clubbing or hacking motions. It horrified by the human sacrifice,
was reputedly strong enough to the Conquistadors were impressed
decapitate a horse with one blow. by the city’s vast scale.
46
