Though Velazquez de Cuéllar revoked his charter shortly after giving it to him, Cortés managed to leave Cuba hurriedly and set out on his own – along with 500 men, horses and artillery – to conquer Mexico. Less than a week later, he seizes the Aztec ruler and takes control of the city. Less than 30 years after Christopher Columbus landed on the Western Hemisphere and claimed it for Spain, another Spanish explorer, Hernán Cortés sailed across the Atlantic towards the New World in search for wealth and status. Sailing further up along the east coast of Mexico, Hernán Cortés and his men took Veracruz, claiming it for the Spanish crown. Whether or not the Quetzalcoatl prophecy was instrumental in helping Cortés conquer Mexico may never be known for certain. Then, Montezuma would not have given him any gold. Life in Ancient Mesoamerica. 3) They thought the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés was the god Quetzalcóatl 30 June 1520: Spaniards flee Tenochtitlan. With getting more gold his motive, Cortés marched to the Aztec capital. During the 16th century, Quetzalcoatl – whose name in the Nahuatl language means “feathered serpent” or “plumed serpent”, was one of the principle Aztec deities. Montezuma II is also called Mo. Did the Aztec empire actually view the conquistador, Hernan Cortes, as their god Quetzalcoatl? Mexica Accounts of Moctezuma Meeting Cortes From Bernardino de Sahagún, Florentine Codex , Book 12, Chapter 16 (Mexica) Here it is recalled how Moctezuma went in peace and calm to meet the Spaniards at Xoloco, where the house of Alvarado now stands, or at the place they call Huitzillan. Cortés resembled the god’s description from the legend. Cortés’ victory over the Aztecs was not brought about solely by the Spanish sword. As with all gods, there is a promise to return one day, the truth being, no gods return, we return to light. emperor, Moctezuma II, believed Cortés to be a god. The other theory is that Montezuma and the Aztecs thought of the Spanish human and equal to themselves which is what most modern scholars believe (New World Encyclopedia, 2013). himself or set out on a 5 a story Cortes took advantage of when Moctezuma from ENH251 MYT 23400 at Rio Salado Community College This one was to be headed by 34 year old Cortés. Subtleties in, and an imperfect scholarly understanding of, high Nahuatl rhetorical style make the exact intent of these comments tricky to ascertain, but Restall argues that Moctezuma politely offering his throne to Cortes (if indeed he did ever give the speech as reported) may well have been meant as the exact opposite of what it was taken to mean: politeness in Aztec culture was a way to assert … Along with this religious mission and the tantalizing lure of undiscovered riches, Hernán Cortés set off to accomplish both. After his arrival on Hispaniola in 1504 and subsequent participation in the conquest of the island of Cuba, Cortés made a name for himself as a bold and enterprising leader. Many are familiar with the popular tale of the meeting between Emperor Moctezuma and conquistador Hernán Cortés. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. He was the only son of noble, though not wealthy, parents. The story is that the last emperor Motecuhzoma (sometimes spelled Montezuma or Moctezuma) mistook Cortés for the returning god, based on the supposed resemblance between the Spanish conquistador and the god. Cortés resembled the god’s description from the legend. According to one of the legends, Quetzalcoatl, who was among the gods of creation, was forced into exile by Tezcatlipoca; another principal Aztec god. Almost certainly not. The Aztecs dominion over Mexico came about by years of war, as a result, the Aztec had many enemies. One of the theories is that the Aztecs first thought that Cortes was a god, as they coincidentally arrived when the Aztec god,  was due to arrive. Columbus had set sail hoping to … Cortés landed at Cozumel in the Yucatan peninsula in the early spring of 1519. With the stars lining up for him, Hernan Cortes’ conquest of Mexico may have been made easier by the centuries old prophecy of a returning bearded god from the east. Hernan Cortes and his Journey to Tenochtitlan, Montezuma II and the relationship between him and Cortes. The emperor before Montezuma II was a man named Ahuitzotl. The Aztecs turned on their leader and Montezuma was hit by a stone and died. If Montezuma II and the Aztecs knew that Hernan Cortes was also a human and not a god then the Aztecs would not show as much respect to Cortes men. This story, detailed in Spanish records, is almost certainly false, but how it arose is a fascinating story itself. 2002, Sanna, Ellyn. Towards the end of the 15th century, Pope Alexander VI decreed that Spain could claim any lands in the New World for itself under the condition that the natives were converted to Christianity. Inca Mythology: The Realms of Hanan Pacha, Kay Pacha & Uku Pacha, Inca Cloth: Weaving Grades of Ancient Peruvian Textiles, Almazan, Marco A. “Hernan Cortes: Virtu vs. Fortuna”. “The History of Mexico”. At age 14, Cortés was sent to study law at the University of Salamanca, but he was restless and unhappy. Mexico: Facts & Figures; 2003, p16-21, 6p. He approximately doubled the land owned by the Aztecs and his governor was Monteuzuma II. New York. Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History, 2005, Vol. After his arrival on Hispaniola in 1504 and subsequent participation in the conquest of the island of Cuba, Cortés made a name for himself as a bold and enterprising leader. After a three-month siege, Spanish forces under Hernán Cortés capture Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec empire. This was advantageous for Cortés being that he was able to win allies primarily within the Tlaxcala of central Mexico and the Totonac of Veracruz. Thinking that the god had returned, Moctezuma sent Cortés gifts, including gold. Consider the following: 1. Quetzalcoatl sailed away into the Atlantic on a raft made of snakes with a promise to return on his year, the First Year of the Reed (this occurs once every 52 years). One day, the spanish were being attacked by the Indians so Cortes told Moctezuma to go out and tell them to stop. According to Restall’s latest work, When Montezuma Met Cortez, a great deal of the widely-accepted version of events bears revisiting with greater scrutiny. The fact that Diego Velazquez had sent 900 men from Cuba to capture Cortes implies that there were internal divisions among the Spanish forces in the Americas While Cortés went down to the coast to subdue the soldiers sent by Diego Velazquez, Cortes' lieutenant Pedro de Alvarado, and the Spaniards According to an Aztec legend, the god Quetzalcoatl was to return to Mexico in 1519. Hernan Cortez and the Quetzalcoatl Prophecy: How the Spanish Conquest of Mexico... Inca Population: How Many Incas Were There? A little more than 500 years ago, a meeting occurred between two men that forever altered the course of history. Columbus had landed at San Salvador and explored the West Indies in 1492, when Cortés was a young boy. Reader’s Companion to Military History. “Aztec Empire”. Along with this religious mission and the tantalizing lure of undiscovered riches, Hernán Cortés set off to accomplish both. Montezuma was then held hostage by Cortes because of his greed for more gold but Montezuma had outlived his usefulness. It was understood that Moctezuma (also known as Montezuma II), at heart a coward, trembled in his sandals and quickly despaired of victory. The only documents that confirm the naïve Montezuma theory are ones either written by Hernán Cortés himself or ones that were penned years after the conquest by Spanish historians. YES POINTS His arrival in the Aztec empire in Mexico occured around the same time that was prophesized of Quetzacoatl's return to their land. Moctezuma and Cortés in 1519. Then, Montezuma would not have given him any gold. His appearance and personality was Cortés moved up the social and governmental ranks during his time on the islands. Journal of American Culture; Summer97, Vol. 2005, p30, “Quetzalcoatl”. With getting more gold his motive, Cortés marched to the Aztec capital. In the summer of 1521, the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan fell to the Spanish. Cortés men leveled the city and captured Cuauhtemoc, the Aztec emperor. It would become an accepted fact that the indigenous people of Mexico believed Hernando Cortés to be a god, arriving in their land in the year 1519 to satisfy an ancient prophecy. I will discuss both of the theories to explain what Montezuma and Cortes' relationship would have been for both circumstances. The problem that some ethnocentric scholars seem to have with the previously accepted belief that Montezuma II, ruler of the Aztecs, put up little resistance to the Spaniards because he thought their arrival was the fulfillment of the Quetzalcoatl prophecy has to do with the fact that history is written by the victors. According to an Aztec legend, the god Quetzalcoatl was to return to Mexico in 1519. But how does this compare to what the historical record tells us? According to some, the emperor believed that Cortez was the god Quetzalcoatl, whom the Aztecs believed would one day return to rule over Mexica. Hernán Cortés and the conquerors built Mexico City on the ruins of the once great Aztec capital. As it goes, Moctezuma mistook the Spanish invaders for gods, thereby setting the stage for the conquest of the Aztec Empire. The encounter took place in the magnificent Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, the seat of a wealthy and powerful Aztec empire that ruled over vast regions of central and southern Mexico. The sad drama ended in April 1520. The Aztecs mistook Cortes as Quetzalcoatl because of his pale skin, long beard and height. When Montezuma first met Cortes, he is said to have lifted his shirt revealing the words saying, ' I am mortal blood as you are mortal blood' showing that Montezuma recognises that they are both human. The Spaniards and their allies flee Tenochtitlan on … In 1519, as conquistador Hernan Cortes was making his way inland from the coast on his audacious conquest of the Mexica (Aztec) Empire, he had to pass through the lands of the fiercely independent Tlaxcalans, who were the mortal enemies of the Mexica. These two interpretations of the god Quetzalcoatl, along with Cortés’ march into Tenochtitlan on the First Year of the Reed, have led to the accepted assumption that the invading Spaniards were mistaken by the Aztecs as either being representatives or incarnations of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl is important because it is actually said that Montezuma thought Cortes was indeed the God Quetzalcoatl, which legend said would return in the Mayan year one Reid. Worldhistory.us - For those who want to understand the History, not just to read it. Had it not been for certain facilitating factors, however, Mexican history might have very well been a different one all together. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Towards the end of the 15th century, Pope Alexander VI decreed that Spain could claim any lands in the New World for itself under the condition that the natives were converted to Christianity. Cortés had already separated himself from Cuban governor Velazquez de Cuéllar, but by the taking of Veracruz, Cortés placed himself directly under the command of King Carlos V of Spain. The treasure hunt would ultimately end in the Conquest of the Aztec Empire. The Aztecs mistook Cortes as Quetzalcoatl because of his pale skin, long beard and height. 1, p221, Downing, Todd. info)), in honorific form: Quetzalcōātzin) is a deity in Aztec culture and literature whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". In fact, thousands of natives aided Cortés’ conquest of Mexico. 20 Issue 2, p131, 7p, Berdan, Frances. In his absence, Pedro de Alvarado — the most brutal of the conquistadores — slaughtered 3,400 Aztecs because he mistook a spirited religious ceremony for an outbreak of rebellion. The Aztecs turned on their leader and Montezuma was hit by a stone and died. On Nov. 8, 1519, the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, after months of battling neighboring cities, entered Tenochtitlán … Cortés faces Montezuma on the great causeway leading to Tenochtitlan. Whether by shear luck or by providence, the time of Cortés’ arrival coincided with the prophesied return of the Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl. They mistook took him for being part of the Spanish army and he was hit in the head by a rock. Cortés was born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain. Thinking that the god had returned, Moctezuma sent Cortés gifts, including gold. emperor, Moctezuma II, believed Cortés to be a god. The contention that Montezuma thought that Cortez was the god Quetzalcoatl is based upon the writings of Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagun, who was present with Cortez in 1519, and a document, the Florentine Codex, that was written more than 50 years after the fact. 1996, p109, Peppas, Lynn. There are different accounts of what the Aztecs thought of the Spanish when they first arrived and these differences would greatly effect Montezuma and Cortes' relationship. Theory 1- Montezuma II believes that Cortes is a god There was an Aztec prophesy that stated that the god, Quetzalcoatl would arrive at the year 1519, the exact year that Hernan Cortes arrived at Tenochtitlan. After commissioning two previous expeditions of Mexico headed first by Francisco Fernandez de Cordova and then Juan de Grijalva, the governor of Cuba, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, decided on a third Mexican expedition in 1518. What is known is that a once great empire met a sudden and violent end in the 16th century and even though much evidence of the Aztec culture and everyday way of life was destroyed by the conquerors and their Church, scholars, archeologists and historians continue to uncover new facts about the ancient civilization that was the Aztec Empire. Cortes did not speak Nahuatl, so he culd not speak directly to Motecuhzoma/Montezuma. Upon reaching Tenochtitlán from the Atlantic coast in modern-day Veracruz, Cortés and his men were met by Moctezuma at the entrance to the city. He became fascinated with tales of Christopher Columbus' New World explorations. Others, however, argue that Moctezuma was buying his time, and would crush the Spanish at the appropriate moment. 8 November 1519, Cortés faces Montezuma. Thanks for the A2A. He died a couple of days later. Where the history of Hernan Cortez’ defeat of Montezuma is concerned, according to Penn State University historian Dr. Matthew Restall, this fact is far more literal than proverbial. Montezuma was then held hostage by Cortes because of his greed for more gold but Montezuma had outlived his usefulness. Some Mormon scholars believe that Quetzalcoatl, as a white, bearded God who came from the sky and promised to return, was actually Jesus Christ. Cortés actually has Moctezuma insist to his Spanish audience that he himself is nota god, and does not pose untold wealth: “I know that [my enemies] have told you the walls of my houses are made of gold, and that the floor mats in my rooms … are likewise of gold, and that I … “Spanish Conquest”. At first, the Tlaxcalans fought the conquistadors viciously, but after repeated defeats, they decided to make peace with the Spanish and … In fact, the flag of the Mexican Republic contains an Aztec symbol: the eagle holding the snake. Cortés had just returned from defeating a rival Spanish force at Veracruz sent by the envious governor of Cuba. “Cortés, Hernán”. An unnerving series of coincidences led Montezuma to believe that perhaps Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, who had promised to return one day to reclaim his kingdom. The Mexican Earth. If Montezuma thought of Hernan Cortes as Quetzalcoatl then he would have treated him with an exceptional amount of respect and fear. Aside from being depicted as the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl was often characterized as the god of wind, Ehécatl, who was shown as a bearded man. The Aztecs -- or the Mexica as they are more properly known -- ruled an area that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, populated by millions. Quetzalcoatl as Thoth writing the stories of our reality manifest through Sacred Geometry. 1940, Hassig, Ross. Another name for Quetzalcoatl was the White Tezcatlipoca – making him the yin equivalent to Tezcatlipoca (also known as the Black Tezcatlipoca).