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NEW WORLD CONQUEST
AZTECS AND

CONQUISTADORS AZTECS AND

From 1519, the Aztec Empire faced an invasion by Spanish
conquistadors—men from an alien military tradition with
superior technology. The struggle for control of the capital, CONQ
Tenochtitlán, revealed the Aztec army’s dependence on stone
weaponry and their ritualistic attitude to warfare. UIST

The Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II The primary objective of a warrior
at first welcomed the Spanish and was not to kill his opponents but to
their Indian allies, the Tlaxcaltec, maim them and capture them alive. ADORS
into his palace in Tenochtitlán, but Nonetheless, after battle was joined
relations soon soured. The Spanish the Spanish suffered steady attrition.
took Moctezuma hostage, and the The tide was turned not by the
Aztec population became increasingly conquistadors’ few gunpowder
hostile. In June 1520, fighting broke weapons or their steel swords, but by
out. Moctezuma was killed—whether their horses—animals unknown to the
by the Spanish, or his own people, is Aztecs before the Europeans’ arrival.
not known—and the Spanish were The Spanish commander Hernán
besieged in the royal palace. On the Cortés led a small cavalry charge
night of June 30, they attempted to into the Aztec ranks and ran down
escape along the causeways that linked their commanders. The psychological
the city, built on an island in Lake impact of this bold and unexpected
Texcoco, to the shore. Aztec warriors action routed the Aztecs, who soon
in war canoes attacked the Spanish, abandoned the field in disarray.
shooting arrows and climbing onto the
causeways to strike them with clubs. THE TAKING OF TENOCHTITLÁN
Of about a thousand conquistadors, The following year, reinforced with
probably two-thirds were killed, large numbers of Tlaxcaltec and
taken prisoner, or wounded. other native allies, Cortés placed
Tenochtitlán under siege. In the
THE SHOCK OF THE NEW defense of the city the Aztecs proved
Under a new emperor, Cuitláhuac, far more resolute than in open field.
the Aztecs sought to complete their They fought fiercely to hold the
victory by pursuing the remnants of causeways giving access to the city
the Spanish force. An Aztec army set across the lake, until these were
out, splendidly arrayed, the officers made untenable by the fire of small
wearing elaborate feathered displays cannon mounted in Spanish boats.
on bamboo frames and marching Then they defended their city street
under colorful standards. They by street. Confronting crossbows,
caught up with the Spanish at the arquebuses, and steel swords with
plain of Otumba. The Aztecs greatly their weapons of wood and stone,
outnumbered their enemy, probably they repeatedly repelled incursions
by at least twenty to one. Their noble by the Spanish and their allies,
warriors, hardened to warfare from throwing missiles from the rooftops
an early age, were physically fearless and ambushing isolated groups
fighters. They had no metal weapons, of soldiers. The Aztecs remained
but their wooden clubs and spears undefeated through 10 weeks of
were edged with razor-sharp black siege, but eventually the Spanish
obsidian blades. As well as bows and blockade of the city led to a shortage
arrows, they had javelins that could of food, forcing them to surrender.
be launched to considerable distance In August 1521, the Aztec civilization
using a throwing stick, or atlatl. came to an end.