Historical Events tagged with "cortes"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Military & Warfare

Cortés Captures Cuauhtémoc and Tenochtitlan

August 13th, 1521 503 years ago

Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés successfully defeated the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan after a prolonged siege, capturing its ruler, Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc. The fall of Tenochtitlan marked a pivotal moment in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, culminating in the collapse of one of the most powerful Mesoamerican civilizations. The siege was notably arduous, exacerbated by a lack of food and water, and fierce resistance from the Aztec warriors within the city.

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Military & Warfare

Massacre at the Festival of Tóxcatl

May 22nd, 1520 504 years ago

During the Festival of Tóxcatl, Spanish forces, led by Hernán Cortés, attacked the Aztec people in Tenochtitlan. This brutal incident involved the surprise slaughter of unarmed Aztec participants, angering the local populace. The festival was a significant event in the Aztec calendar, celebrating the deity Tezcatlipoca. The massacre contributed directly to the collapse of relations between the Spanish and the Aztecs, fueling further hostilities.

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Exploration & Discovery

Cortés Initiates Quest for Aztec Wealth

March 4th, 1519 506 years ago

Hernán Cortés arrived on the coast of Mexico with a small force of Spanish conquistadors, driven by the desire to discover the legendary wealth of the Aztecs. The expedition began with the landing at Veracruz, where Cortés aimed to establish contact with the indigenous peoples and learn of their riches. His arrival marked the starting point of a conquest that would drastically change the course of Mesoamerican history.

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