The fall of the Cortes and Astech empires

 "As early as the time comes, I will return to the middle of you, along with the bearded white people, to the east coast..." - In the ASTECH legend around AD1000, the first contact ** Espanyans were engulfed in the reign of Montesuma II and his people. Disasters, which mean ominous signs, were occurring one after another. A burning comet passed through the sky. The temple of Uichilofoktli, the god of war, was engulfed in a fire. The Mexican lake boiled and overflowed, causing houses to be submerged.  The woman wandered around the street in the middle of the night and sobbed as follows. "My children, we must leave this city!" A fisherman caught a bird with a strange mirror on its head feathers and dedicated it to the king. When Montesuma looked into the mirror, people on the backs of deer-like animals were seen at war on a wide plain. When frightened Montesuma told his manager to explain this terrifying sign, the manager said the signs were predicting that the kingdom of Montesuma would collapse. In fact, Montesuma had a reason to be afraid. - The Espanyans were settled in Hispanola and Cuba because they had been marching toward their empire.   The Espanians attempted several expeditions to the Yucatan Peninsula in 1517, and returned with amazing stories about Maya, a highly civilized man, and tremendous gold. The stories of these discoveries strongly stimulated the curiosity of the colonists in Cuba. Among them was Hernan Cortes, a magistrate of Santiago. Diego de Velázquez, former governor of Cuba, offered to support 2-3 ships if Cortes was willing to lead the army with the rest of the funds. Cortes accepted this proposal and on August 23, 1518, Velazquez appointed Cortes as the commander-in-chief of the expedition to Yucatan.  Pillars that looked like fireworks would appear every night.  A woman sobbed, "My children, we have to leave this city far away!"  Montesuma saw people dressed strangely from afar climb on the backs of deer and fight a war. In January 1519, *** Cortes was appointed commander *** The Espanyan colony of the 16th century was excited by the enthusiasm for gold, and about two weeks later Cortes was able to prepare two double sailboats and 300 soldiers. Velazquez knows the size of the troops Cortes is taking and dispatches a messenger who has issued his command, fearing that if he tries to explore more than just one, it will be difficult to control. However, after killing the messenger, Cortes' brother-in-law brought the governor's letter to Cortes and showed it to him. Beware of Velazquez's intentions, Cortes quickly led the expedition and escaped Cuba.    It is only about 120 miles from Cuba to Yucatan, and Cortes gets off at Kosumel's beach and sees the Maya pyramid, where the sanctuary is set up at the top for the first time in his life. Almost at the same time, he gets incredible luck. The natives who lived on the island informed him that there were two Christians who drifted from a boat a long time ago and lived as prisoners in the country of the next gate, known as Yucatan. One of the two Christians' names is Geronimo de Aguilar, and it is said that a ship was wrecked near Jamaica in 1511. The reason to thank Aguilar for his survival is the fact that Cortes has obtained an interpreter who speaks the Mayan dialect.   Cortes landed while exploring the outskirts of Yucatan and Potonchan, and the natives gave him some food and a golden mask, telling the Espanians. "We don't want war, we don't want trade." "We have no more gold. If you don't leave, I'll kill everyone." Eventually, this conversation ends with a tragedy in which more than 400 Indians are exterminated. The Indians surrendered and made tortilla bread to the Espanians and offered gifts, including 20 women to attend. Cortes found one of the women offered as gifts, Maya and Nauatlian, Malinali speaking Astec, or Malinche. This meeting provided the key to realizing Cortes' ambition. - When Cortes delivers his intention through Geronimo Aguilar and Aguilar speaks Mayan to Malinze again, she has found a way of interpreting in a way that speaks to Mexicans in Nauatl.  The Espanyans' landing Espanyans' march Espanyans' soldier is destroying Mexican temples. ***Additional** An indio woman known by her nickname La Malinche, who played an important role in Cortes' conquest of Mexico, existed. Her original name was Malinali Setenepal, and she was one of the 20 women offered to Cortes as a gift of reconciliation, but she was very intelligent and able to speak a variety of native languages, so she stands out. Cortes delivered his intention in Spanish to Geronimo de Aguilar (Aguillar was captured by the Mayans for eight years because his ship was wrecked and lived with them), and Aguilar translated into Malin Mayan and spoke to the native tribe in Nauatlian. Cortes called her Mirengua, or "my tongue," and cherished her very much. Malinche was baptized by Catholicism and Marina got an Espanyan name. However, indigenous Indians called her Malinche, not Marina. It meant the woman of the conqueror, the traitor. She served as a counselor and advisor as well as an interpreter. She was the one who explained Indio's mindset, customs, religion, and tradition to Cortes and guided him to every corner of the Astec Empire. In Tenochtitlan, a magnificent city floating in the middle of the lake, Emperor Montesuma, who rules the empire, lives, and Malinche also said that when the emperor's troops form a battle, the entire land is covered as if the sea would be wavy. Although as many as 30 subordinate countries are offering tribute to the emperor, she also hinted that they must turn their backs on the Astec Empire when someone with stronger power appears, as they are looking for a chance to escape from Astec's control and become independent.  The information and knowledge given by Malinche were more reliable and powerful than any other weapon. Cortes planned to destroy Astec based on that information and knowledge. The core of the plan was to attract the Indio tribe, who hated Astec, into the allies. As planned, strong Indian tribes have joined the Cortes side one after another. To that extent, it goes without saying that Malinche showed his skills with skillful speech as he traveled between tribes. Why did Malinche cooperate with Cortes? Why did she turn a blind eye to her kind of Indio and become a woman of an unfamiliar conqueror? Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in her past. It is not well known when and where she was born. Some say that she was the daughter of a noble man and some say she was the daughter of a king, but anyway, she seems to have not been an ordinary woman, considering that the advice she gave Cortes had a considerable eye and knowledge. What small tribe were they from that was trampled by the Astech Empire?  It is said that Malinche has been sold as a slave since childhood. It is said that he traveled from place to place by working hard such as watering, grinding corn, and weaving. She could speak many native languages because she wandered around many places. When he met Cortes, Malinche would have already been a woman who had tasted the darkness of life and human vice to the fullest. All she received from her kind may have been contempt and abuse. Everything related to miserable memories, including relatives and hometowns, may have wanted to deny it.  On April 20th, 1519, *** The Force of Force *** # Pope must have been drunk - the reaction of Senu Indian to hear that Pope Alexander VI divided the world into Espanya and Portugal - the fleet passes through Fortonchan and reaches what was once named the island of offerings.There, Cortes receives warm hospitality from the Totonaks. Totonak remembered Grihalva, who was kind to them, and thought that the Espaniles could become allies in the war against the Mexicans. A few days later, the envoy of Montesuma, the great king of Mexico, arrived. The envoy's name was Teudile, and as all the great king's officials do, he wore a beautiful cloak made of parrot feathers to show his high position. Montesuma instructed envoys to support food, precious jewelry, and feather ornaments as gifts. Delivering Montesuma's good will, Teudille puts his damp finger on the soil, lifts it, and puts it on his lips ("eating dust").Gestures are one of the signs of respect seen by Astec's diplomatic envoys) and then incense was burned, and surprisingly, the Espanese bled from their bodies and buried in reeds and dedicated to them. After asking a few questions about Montesuma, Cortes introduced himself as a representative envoy to the king who rules the "great country of the world." Teudille asked again if there was a message he wanted to convey to Montesuma in order to fulfill his wish come true. Cortes then demonstrated the power of cannons and horses to Astech envoys. His mid-term troops were fully armed with cavalry spears and swords, rang the bell, and rushed to the coast.

It wasn't enough for threats, but when a large cannon was fired, Teudille and other envoys literally fell on the ground and trembled with fear.  Espanyan soldiers arrest the envoys of Montesuma.  When Espanyan soldiers fired cannons, envoys fell on the floor like dead people because of fear. *** Cortes burns a boat *** The Spanish all had to carry in their pockets a charter of rights that summarized their beliefs in one item.                                <"This Spanish has been given the right to act as they choose"> - Kanibet - Montesuma envoys returned to the emperor with an astonishing report on their meetings with the Espaniles. : Their cannons, horses, dogs, and greed for gold. Montesuma was frightened by the envoys' stories, and thought Cortes was likely the reality of the "feathered snake" Kesalkoatl, who vowed to return to his kingdom and sacred throne someday.  Meanwhile, Cortes was measuring his choice direction. He had not yet seen Tenochtitlan's magic city, but knew it was about 200 miles away. If he returned to Cuba, he would be detained or killed for disobedience to the governor-general.  The only way he could choose was to conquer and settle in part of the land. To realize this plan, he had his supporters build a colonial city and denied all the positions Velazquez had certified. The legally enacted "Villarica City Council" was established, and the council appointed Cortes as governor-general. After Cortes accepted the post of governor-general, he strictly defined his relationship with Velazquez. Several soldiers who were loyal to Cuba's governor-general tried to steal ships and flee to Cuba, but Cortes responded quickly and broke their plans. To prevent such rebellion from happening again, Cortes sank all the ships under the pretext that the sailing ships could no longer withstand the voyage. After sinking all the ships, Cortes marched into the territory of the Tlaxcala. They were strong opponents of Mexico, and Cortes believed that the Tlaxcala would be a powerful force as a military alliance against Astec.  After a long debate, the Tlakscallas decide to fight Cortes instead of Astec, but they have to suffer a disastrous defeat. Eventually, the Tlakscallas accepted the proposal for peace and agreed to attack Mexico with Cortes. Cortes, along with the Tlaxcala warriors, marches toward Cholula, 20 miles from Tlaxcala. Rumor has it that the Cholulines are planning to detain Cortes in the city and slaughter his troops, according to the Tlaxcala people to Malinze. When Cholula leaders and a large number of warriors gathered in the vacant lot in front of the Temple Pyramid of Kesalkoatl without arms, Espanyans and Tlaxcalines began the massacre. The massacre had a spooky effect and prompted kingdoms and cities under the control of the empire of Montesuma to surrender to Cortes' orders.   Montesuma and the Mexicans sighed after hearing about the power of the Espanians.  The leaders of the Tlakscala are offering food such as turkey, eggs, and quality white tortilla bread to the Espanians as a sign of peace.  Montesuma sent nobles, magicians, and prophets to meet Cortes. When *** the most beautiful thing in the world *** Cortes and his troops arrived in Tenochtitlan in November 1519, they were shocked. This place was a dream city. On November 8, 1519, the Espanyans marched along the bank road leading to the city. The towers, temples, and canoes were packed with Espanyanese troops and crowds trying to see their horses.  The two leaders met at the entrance of Tenochtitlan. Montesuma was sitting in a kiln covered with high-quality cotton covers, and his shoulders were decorated with decorations symbolizing the emperor. He got up from the kiln and hung a necklace made of gold and precious jewelry around Cortes' neck. In return, Cortes also hung a necklace made of pearls and Segongari around Montesuma's neck, but when he tried to hug Montesuma, the two monarchs stopped him.  The Astecs guided the Spaniards to the center of the city, and Montesuma provided more gifts and then arranged rooms in the building for accommodation. The Astecs were aware of the massacre in Cholula and believed that the Espanyans were irrational and unpredictably cruel. Tenochtidlan provided a resting place for the monster. Astec's records convey the atmosphere of Tenochtitlan's people as follows. "It felt like everyone ate clown mushrooms..." People seemed to have witnessed something astonishing. Fear dominated everyone, and the end of the world was engulfed in an atmosphere that seemed to be coming. People fell into a state of lethargy with fear."    When Montesuma met Cortes, Malice was an interpreter for the Espaniles.  Espanyan soldiers dragged Montesuma with their hands. They patted Montesuma with their hands and expressed their friendship with him.  When they all entered the palace, the Espanians detained Montesuma. *** Tenochtitlan's massacre in July 1520 *** "If there are Spaniards in heaven, I don't want to go there" - The last horse left by Hathai, a Cuban Indian chief, before being tied to a stake and burned - While Cortes was on his way to fight Narvaez (Kuban Velazquez's father, Van Pillo de Narvaes suspected of rebellion)Alvarado detained two high-ranking leaders and murdered several others.  # The above record shows what happens when a knife made of steel and a spear are hit on the body without armor.   "They attacked all the festival participants. Those who were cut by knives and stabbed by windows from behind collapsed with their intestines coming out of their bodies. There were people whose heads were blown away. When they hit people's shoulders, their arms fell off their bodies. It was normal to hurt your thighs or calves. Those who were stabbed in the stomach died spilling their intestines on the ground. Some tried to run away by dragging their protruding intestines, but tripped over their intestines." Tensions eventually exploded when Alvarado ordered the slaughter at the Spring Festival in Uichilopochtli. Between June 25 and 30, 1520, when Cortes returned, the situation reached its worst. The bank road was blocked, the bridge was cleared, and a trap was set up. Espanyans were not supplied with food, and the problem of lack of drinking water was also serious. Cortes tried to calm the people at the top of the roof by ordering Montesuma, but he had to bring the emperor back because of the baptism of stones and arrows.   Later, the Espanhas claimed that Montesuma eventually died of wounds, but whether injured or not, when he was taken back into the palace, Cortes must have realized that his "holy spokesperson" had lost all his authority and was no longer worth using the Espanians. The same was true of other nobles. When the fact that Montesuma and other great nobles were killed spread widely, the entire city was engulfed in anger. The Espanyans tried to run away without being caught, but were soon caught. Canoes flocked from all sides as the cry of a woman who found the Espanyan army rang. The Espanyan army tried to move forward, but it was in chaos and hundreds of people fell into the waterway.     At least 600 Espanya Concistadors died (or claimed to be more than 1,000), and most soldiers would have drowned because of the weight of the gold they had on their bodies. More than thousands of Tlaxcala also died. Cortes made a big detour to the north of the valley and retreated to the back of the mountain in the Tlakscala area.  The terrible fear of this night was never forgotten. The incident, in which most of the Espanya group was destroyed, is called "nochetriste."  The Spanish soldiers, who broke out in the war, set up a shelter above the walls of the palace.  And they shackled Montesuma. In December 1520, in the *** siege, Gubjurim, and smallpox *** Tlaxcala territory, Cortes soothed the anxious Indian allies and reorganized military power. He believed that the key to victory lies in controlling the lake, and soon began to build prefabricated ships. It was also at this time that Cortes began sending long letters to King Espanya that described his journey to Tenochtitlan, Mexico. Meanwhile, Astech thought the Spaniards had left for another place in search of wealth. The Astecs crowned the new emperor, Quautemok, meaning "a descending eagle."  Quautemok was in his mid-20s and was the son and experienced leader of Auchotl, Montesuma's uncle. The Astecs cleaned the temple yard and held the festival in a traditional way. However, at the end of July, people died of mysterious external diseases, and terrible symptoms such as "painful cough and burning high fever" appeared.  Infectious diseases such as the Black Death and smallpox soon spread along the banks of Tenochtitlan. The epidemic continued to spread for about 70 days around the end of November, killing a huge number of people.   At the end of December 1520, Cortes' army attacked Tenochtitlan.  The canoe following the Espanyan army was leading more than 8,000 native warriors. The initial goal of the siege was to obtain the surrender of cities around the lake.

It seemed clear that Tenochtitlan's order was over. Astec's leadership was divided, and Tral Tellulco's Chronicles say that the Mexicans were already fighting among themselves. However, even when only one city on the island was left, Astec did not surrender.    The Espanyans put a boat across the bank road to Toloko, where the wall stood. They fired cannons. The second shell collapsed the wall.    All the people jumped into the lake. Refugees' boats were full of babies and crayfish tools. . The Last Battle: Where do you go to the Astec Iliad, my friends? The smoke is rising and the fog is thick. Wailing, my friends! The water is colored with blood. Cry, oh! Wailing, the Astech Empire has disappeared. - The city-Cortes and his allies, who lamented the fall of Astec, landed troops in the southern part of the island and fought by overpowering streets, streets, houses, and houses one after another. Despite being armed with better weapons, the Espanyans suffered greatly from ambush attacks. Finally, the original city of Tenochtitlan, the southern part of the island, was captured by the Spanish army. An estimated 300,000 defensive forces concentrated personnel in the northern part of the island and resisted for more than 80 days. When the ominous signs of prophecy confirmed that defeat was inevitable, the Astech leaders discussed how to surrender and "what to offer in return for surrender." Coutemok was delivered in front of Cortes. "Cortes stared at him for a while and stroked Cuatemok's head." For Alba Iktoly, one of the descendants of the king, who fought with Cortes as an ally, the act was apparently intended to undermine the emperor's authority.  Cortes now wanted to be treated with respect by Quautemok because he thought he was an emperor. Coutemok asked Cortes to kill him. "You have already destroyed my city and slaughtered my people." On the day of surrender, the Espanians looted the city while the natives of the alliance ran like crazy and resolved their resentment against their former adversaries. Most of the residents of Astec left the island in a canoe in the middle of the night, and the two sides suffered a lot of casualties at the end of the violent battle, "I used to run away and collide with each other."  The nobles gathered to discuss the issue of appointing the new Mexican leader, Quautemok, as king.     The prisoners were later sacrificed in various temples. It's not true that we came to live in this land, it's not true.    We just came to sleep and dream. - The Poetry of Ancient Astech.