1. Arrival of Hernán Cortés in Mexico: In 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men arrived in the city of Veracruz, beginning the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
2. Establishment of alliances with indigenous allies: Cortés and his men formed alliances with rival indigenous groups who were enemies of the Aztecs, such as the Tlaxcalans, allowing them to gather more troops and resources for their conquest.
3. Fall of Tenochtitlan: After a series of battles and sieges, Cortés and his allies finally reached the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1521. Despite being vastly outnumbered, they managed to defeat the Aztecs and conquer the city, effectively ending the Aztec Empire.
4. Capture of Emperor Moctezuma II: During the conquest of Tenochtitlan, Cortés captured Emperor Moctezuma II, who later died under mysterious circumstances. This event further weakened the Aztecs and demoralized their resistance.
5. Destruction of Templo Mayor: After the fall of Tenochtitlan, the Spanish razed the city and built their own city, Mexico City, on top of the ruins. The Templo Mayor, the main temple of the Aztec capital, was destroyed in the process.
6. End of Aztec resistance: Despite some remaining pockets of resistance, the Spanish effectively controlled the former Aztec territories by the mid-16th century. The Aztec Empire was replaced by the Spanish colonial government, marking the end of Aztec rule in Mexico.
Events in the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire
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