Conquest of Mexico

The conquest of Mexico, we are all aware of how it happened. How Cortes and his men defeated the indigenous peoples and claimed the area for Spain. We know this through Spanish documents and writings, we also know this through indigenous people accounts. Using the book The Broken Spears we get an account from the indigenous people of Latin America which details Cortes' march upon Tenochtitlan from a native point of view. This first hand information turns another spotlight on an event which helped to shape the world in which we now live. The account tells of various reasons for the defeat of the Aztec people, most of which we are familiar, superior Spanish technology, disease and the political alliances, or lack there of, amongst the indigenous peoples. Through this indigenous record however, I believe the true reason for the defeat of the proud Aztec empire, the incompetence of the Aztec leadership, especially Motecuhzoma the Second. In this paper I will show using the information in The Broken Spears and other sources, how through actions and inactions, Motecuhzoma doomed his own people.

Before Contact was ever made with the Spanish there were eight omens that happened. The first was a fire in the sky, the second was a temple fire in which no cause could be discovered. The third was a temple being struck by lightning despite very light rain conditions, the fourth was three streaking line of fire in the sky. The fifth was boiling waters and an eventual flood, the sixth was a weeping woman who was crying out for her children and her need to escape the city. The seventh was a great bird with a

mirror on its head which foretold of a battle in the future. The final and eighth omen was a man like creature in the city that appeared to be two men fused together. All of these

omens did not portend good things and while it was the priests responsibility to read the omens the decision on how to act upon these omens lies with Motecuhzoma himself. His lack of action on these items can be viewed as a failure to properly prepare his people for any sort of upcoming disaster, with the amount of bad omens that appeared Motecuhzoma should have been more suspicious of the Spanish upon their arrival.

Motecuhzomas actions when the Spanish first arrived are also very questionable, when he receives reports about the newcomer's appearances he is said to be distressed, even more than we he heard of the omens. This is a terrible example to show his people, rather than distress he should have shown some semblance of confidence that his people would greet these new comers and become allies if their intentions were good or crush them should they be hostile. He then turns on some of his own people, he summons magicians and orders them to interpret the omens he had earlier witnessed. They did not see them so they of course cannot comment on them, he responds by having them locked away saying "They shall tell me against their will." (Leon- Portilla, 14). At a time when he should be rallying his people he instead imprisons them and ordered them tortured, far from a good strategy to prepare for possibly hostile forces. The alienation of his peoples had begun but as we shall see this was only the beginning to Motecuhzoma losing the hearts and minds of his people.

The arrival of Spanish led Motecuhzoma to believe that the gods had returned. This is a poor interpretation by him especially in light of the bad omens that had preceded the Spanish arrival. Motecuhzoma then decides it is time to establish contact with the

new arrivals, he dispatches a group of messengers bearing gift to meet the Spaniards and hopefully discern their intentions. A more appropriate response would have been to lead a

large contingent of warriors to the new comers, not to attack them but to greet them. A show of military might to the Spaniards and a show of courage to his people would have gone much further than giving gifts and staying in the palace wallowing in the depths of despair.

Despite the failure of his first gifts to the Spaniards, Motecuhzoma decides to send another group of representatives to the Spanish with gifts of gold. The main failing in this encounter though were Motecuhzomas instructions to his envoy Tzihuacpopocatzin to impersonate him. The native allies of the Spanish quickly see through the ruse and expose Tzihuacpopocatzin as an imposter. The Spanish taunt the envoy and chase them away. Upon hearing this Motecuhzoma says "What help is there now my friends? Is there a mountain for us to climb? Should we run away? We are Mexicanos; would this bring any glory to the Mexican nation? Pity the old men and the old women and the innocent little children how can they save themselves? But there is no help, what can we do? Is there nothing left us? We will be judged and punished. And however it may be and whenever it may be, we can do nothing but wait." (Leon-Portilla,

54-55). Hardly encouraging words and a clear display of cowardice, with a leader who has already conceded the war how can it possibly be won?

When the Spanish arrive there is a debate amongst the rulers as to what do,

welcome the Spanish or not allow them entry into the city. It was of course Motecuhzoma

how made the decision, which