History of Mexico, Volume 1, 1516-1521

As the third greatest of the world’s republics, wherein society and civilization are displayed under somewhat abnormal aspects, under aspects at least widely different from thos...

A Glance at the State of European Discovery and Government in America at the Opening of this Volume—Diego Velazquez in Cuba—Character of the Man—A Band of Adventurers Arrives fr...

Velazquez Plans a New Expedition—Gives the Command to his Nephew, Juan de Grijalva—Who Embarks at Santiago and Strikes the Continent at Cozumel Island—Coasts Southward to Ascens...

Refusal of Grijalva to Settle—Alvarado Sent back to Cuba—Grijalva Continues his Discovery—After Reaching the Province of Pánuco he Turns back—Touching at the Rio Goazacoalco, To...

Birthplace of Hernan Cortés—His Coming Compensatory for the Devil-sent Luther—Parentage—Hernan a Sickly Child—Saint Peter his Patron—He is sent to Salamanca—Returns Home—Thinks...

The Quality of Leader Desired—Instructions Issued to Hernan Cortés, Commander-in-chief—The Character of Cortés Undergoes a Change—Cost of the Expedition—By whom Borne—Places Est...

Something of the Captains of Cortés—Alvarado—Montejo—Ávila—Olid—Sandoval—Leon—Ordaz—Morla—The Passage—The Fleet Struck by a Squall—Arrival at Cozumel—Alvarado Censured—Search fo...

Home of Mexican Civilization—The Border Land of Savagism—Configuration of the Country—The Nahuas and the Mayas—Toltecs, Chichimecs, and Aztecs—The Valley of Mexico—Civil Polity...

The Embassy from the Shore—The New Interpreter—Marina—Her Appearance and Quality—Her Romantic History—She Cleaves to the Spaniards and to Cortés—And Becomes One of the most Impo...

Serious Dilemma of Cortés—Authority without Law—Montejo Sent Northward—Recommends another Anchorage—Dissensions at Vera Cruz—Prompt and Shrewd Action of Cortés—A Municipality Or...

Cortés, Diplomate and General—The Municipality of Villa Rica Located—Excitement throughout Anáhuac—Montezuma Demoralized—Arrival of the Released Collectors at the Mexican Capita...

Diego Velazquez once More—His Supporters in the Camp of Cortés—They Attempt Escape—Are Discovered—The Leaders are Seized and Executed—Cortés’ Ride to Cempoala, and what Came of...

Enthusiasm of the Army—The Force—The Totonacs Advise the Tlascalan Route—Arrival at Jalapa—A Look Backward—The Anáhuac Plateau—Meeting with Olintetl—Arrival in the Country of th...

Native Chiefs Sent as Envoys to the Tlascalan Capital—Their Favorable Reception—Xicotencatl Plans Resistance to Cortés—Sends out Spies—Cortés Sends them back Mutilated—The Spani...

Departure from Tlascala—Description of Cholula—The Welcome—Army Quarters in the City—Intimations of a Conspiracy between the Mexicans and Cholultecs—Cortés Asks for Provisions a...

Montezuma Consults the Gods—He again Begs the Strangers not to Come to him—Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl—News from Villa Rica—Death of Escalante—Return of the Cempoalan Allies—A...

Something of the City—The Spaniards Start from Iztapalapan—Reach the Great Causeway—They are Met by many Nobles—And Presently by Montezuma—Entry into Mexico—They are Quartered i...

Cortés Inspects the City—Visits the Temple with Montezuma—Discovery of Buried Treasure—Pretended Evidences of Treachery—Cortés Plans a Dark Deed—Preparations for the Seizure of...

Hollow Homage to the Captive King—Montezuma has his Wives and Nobles—He Rules his Kingdom through the Spaniards—The Playful Page—Liberality of the Monarch—The Sacred Treasures—C...

Growing Discontent among the Mexicans—Cacama’s Conspiracy—He Openly Defies both Montezuma and Cortés—The Council of Tepetzinco—Seizure of Cacama—The Tezcucan Ruler Deposed—Cuicu...

The Mexicans Threaten Revolt—The Clergy in Arms—They Denounce the Conduct of Montezuma—The Emperor Declares he can no longer Restrain his People—Tidings of Velazquez’ Fleet—Sail...

Dismal Prospects—Empire to Hold, Invasion to Repel—The Army Divides—Alvarado Guards Montezuma, while Cortés Looks after Narvaez—The March Seaward—The Rendezvous—The Chinantecs a...

After the Battle—Victory Made Secure—Conduct of the Conquered—A General Amnesty—Disposition of the Forces—Affairs at the Capital—Insurrection Threatened—The Spaniards Hold a Cou...

Character of the Aztecs—Spanish Quarters—The City in Arms—Growing Hatred toward the Invaders—Perilous Position of Alvarado—Montezuma Called to Interfere—Failing Provisions—Mirac...

The Natives Continue the Assault—Their Fierce Bravery—The Spaniards Build Turrets—Still the Mexicans Prove too Strong for Them—Montezuma Called to Intercede—He is Insulted and S...

A Living Death—The Old Imperial Party and the New Power—Aztec Defiance—Perilous Position of the Spaniards—Disappointment to Cortés—Another Sally—The Dying Monarch—He has No Desi...

The Captive-King Drama Carried too Far—Better had the Spaniards Taken Montezuma’s Advice, and have Departed while Opportunity Offered—Diplomatic Value of a Dead Body—Necessity f...

Fatal Mistake of the Mexicans—A Brief Respite Allowed the Spaniards—The Remnant of the Army at Tlacopan—They Set out for Tlascala—An ever increasing Force at their Heels—Rest at...

Divers Disasters to the Spaniards—Mexico Makes Overtures to Tlascala—A Council Held—Tlascala Remains True to the Spaniards—Disaffection in the Spanish Army—Cortés again Wins the...

Conquest in Detail—Barba Caught—Other Arrivals and Reinforcements—The Small-pox Comes to the Assistance of the Spaniards—Letters to the Emperor—Establishing of Segura de la Fron...

The Objective Point—Vessels Needed—Martin Lopez Sent to Tlascala for Timber—Thirteen Brigantines Ordered—Cortés at Tlascala—Drill and Discipline—Address of the General—Parade of...

Plan for the Investment of Mexico—Reconnoitring Tour round the Lake—Cortés in Command—Alvarado and Olid Accompany—They Proceed Northward from Tezcuco—Capture of Cities and Stron...

Phases of Heroism—The Brigantines upon the Lake—Division of Forces between Alvarado, Sandoval, and Olid—Desertion, Capture, and Execution of Xicotencatl—Departure of the Troops...

Something about Quauhtemotzin—Infamous Pretensions of European Civilization and Christianity—Prompt Action of the Mexican Emperor—Repetitions of the Entry Assault—Submission of...

The Destroyers Advance—Fierce Fighting in the Plaza—Dismal Situation of the Mexicans—The Work of Demolition—Movements of Alvarado—The Emperor Refuses to Parley—Misery of the Azt...

A GLANCE AT THE STATE OF EUROPEAN DISCOVERY AND GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA AT THE OPENING OF THIS VOLUME—DIEGO VELAZQUEZ IN CUBA—CHARACTER OF THE MAN—A BAND OF ADVENTURERS ARRIVES FR...

VELAZQUEZ PLANS A NEW EXPEDITION—GIVES THE COMMAND TO HIS NEPHEW, JUAN DE GRIJALVA—WHO EMBARKS AT SANTIAGO AND STRIKES THE CONTINENT AT COZUMEL ISLAND—COASTS SOUTHWARD TO ASCENS...

[17] Or as he calls himself, ‘capellano maggior’ of the armada. Long before the soldier, Bernal Diaz, published his ‘True History,’ Juan Diaz had given to the world an account o...

REFUSAL OF GRIJALVA TO SETTLE—ALVARADO SENT BACK TO CUBA—GRIJALVA CONTINUES HIS DISCOVERY—AFTER REACHING THE PROVINCE OF PÁNUCO HE TURNS BACK—TOUCHING AT THE RIO GOAZACOALCO, TO...

BIRTHPLACE OF HERNAN CORTÉS—HIS COMING COMPENSATORY FOR THE DEVIL-SENT LUTHER—PARENTAGE—HERNAN A SICKLY CHILD—SAINT PETER HIS PATRON—HE IS SENT TO SALAMANCA—RETURNS HOME—THINKS...

preparing for the study of law, and was the chief cause of his leaving the college. Las Casas, _Hist. Ind._, iv. 11, gives him the honors of a bachiller, and as having studied l...

ship’s hold, and states that Cortés rowed ashore. On the way to the house of Suarez he narrowly escapes a patrol. Having secured arms, he proceeds to cheer his captive partisans...

THE QUALITY OF LEADER DESIRED—INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO HERNAN CORTÉS, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF—THE CHARACTER OF CORTÉS UNDERGOES A CHANGE—COST OF THE EXPEDITION—BY WHOM BORNE—PLACES EST...

[82] The ownership of the expedition has been a moot question, some authors regarding it as pertaining chiefly to Velazquez, while others accord it wholly to Cortés and his frie...

[101] _Torquemada_, i. 364; Gomara, _Hist. Mex._, 14, gives the same names, except that Francisco de Salcedo stands in the place of Alvarado. Solis, _Hist. Mex._, i. 66, mention...

SOMETHING OF THE CAPTAINS OF CORTÉS—ALVARADO—MONTEJO—ÁVILA—OLID—SANDOVAL—LEON—ORDAZ—MORLA—THE PASSAGE—THE FLEET STRUCK BY A SQUALL—ARRIVAL AT COZUMEL—ALVARADO CENSURED—SEARCH FO...

[122] Bernal Diaz says the 4th, which is rather close reckoning, according to his own account, for two days are required to reach Cozumel from Cape San Antonio, nine days are co...

HOME OF MEXICAN CIVILIZATION—THE BORDER LAND OF SAVAGISM—CONFIGURATION OF THE COUNTRY—THE NAHUAS AND THE MAYAS—TOLTECS, CHICHIMECS, AND AZTECS—THE VALLEY OF MEXICO—CIVIL POLITY...

THE EMBASSY FROM THE SHORE—THE NEW INTERPRETER—MARINA—HER APPEARANCE AND QUALITY—HER ROMANTIC HISTORY—SHE CLEAVES TO THE SPANIARDS AND TO CORTÉS—AND BECOMES ONE OF THE MOST IMPO...

interpreter Marina, with whom Cortés is accused of having tampered, as he did with the mother. If so, this can hardly be Saavedra’s wife, but a Tabascan child; yet Marina’s mast...

SERIOUS DILEMMA OF CORTÉS—AUTHORITY WITHOUT LAW—MONTEJO SENT NORTHWARD—RECOMMENDS ANOTHER ANCHORAGE—DISSENSIONS AT VERA CRUZ—PROMPT AND SHREWD ACTION OF CORTÉS—A MUNICIPALITY OR...

CORTÉS, DIPLOMATE AND GENERAL—THE MUNICIPALITY OF VILLA RICA LOCATED—EXCITEMENT THROUGHOUT ANÁHUAC—MONTEZUMA DEMORALIZED—ARRIVAL OF THE RELEASED COLLECTORS AT THE MEXICAN CAPITA...

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ ONCE MORE—HIS SUPPORTERS IN THE CAMP OF CORTÉS—THEY ATTEMPT ESCAPE—ARE DISCOVERED—THE LEADERS ARE SEIZED AND EXECUTED—CORTÉS’ RIDE TO CEMPOALA, AND WHAT CAME OF...

ENTHUSIASM OF THE ARMY—THE FORCE—THE TOTONACS ADVISE THE TLASCALAN ROUTE—ARRIVAL AT JALAPA—A LOOK BACKWARD—THE ANÁHUAC PLATEAU—MEETING WITH OLINTETL—ARRIVAL IN THE COUNTRY OF TH...

NATIVE CHIEFS SENT AS ENVOYS TO THE TLASCALAN CAPITAL—THEIR FAVORABLE RECEPTION—XICOTENCATL PLANS RESISTANCE TO CORTÉS—SENDS OUT SPIES—CORTÉS SENDS THEM BACK MUTILATED—THE SPANI...

DEPARTURE FROM TLASCALA—DESCRIPTION OF CHOLULA—THE WELCOME—ARMY QUARTERS IN THE CITY—INTIMATIONS OF A CONSPIRACY BETWEEN THE MEXICANS AND CHOLULTECS—CORTÉS ASKS FOR PROVISIONS A...

MONTEZUMA CONSULTS THE GODS—HE AGAIN BEGS THE STRANGERS NOT TO COME TO HIM—POPOCATEPETL AND IZTACCIHUATL—NEWS FROM VILLA RICA—DEATH OF ESCALANTE—RETURN OF THE CEMPOALAN ALLIES—A...

Vetancurt, after repeating the story, expresses a doubt whether the visit was really made. _Teatro Mex._, pt. iii. 127-8. But Clavigero brings arguments, based partly upon vague...

SOMETHING OF THE CITY—THE SPANIARDS START FROM IZTAPALAPAN—REACH THE GREAT CAUSEWAY—THEY ARE MET BY MANY NOBLES—AND PRESENTLY BY MONTEZUMA—ENTRY INTO MEXICO—THEY ARE QUARTERED I...

CORTÉS INSPECTS THE CITY—VISITS THE TEMPLE WITH MONTEZUMA—DISCOVERY OF BURIED TREASURE—PRETENDED EVIDENCES OF TREACHERY—CORTÉS PLANS A DARK DEED—PREPARATIONS FOR THE SEIZURE OF...

HOLLOW HOMAGE TO THE CAPTIVE KING—MONTEZUMA HAS HIS WIVES AND NOBLES—HE RULES HIS KINGDOM THROUGH THE SPANIARDS—THE PLAYFUL PAGE—LIBERALITY OF THE MONARCH—THE SACRED TREASURES—C...

GROWING DISCONTENT AMONG THE MEXICANS—CACAMA’S CONSPIRACY—HE OPENLY DEFIES BOTH MONTEZUMA AND CORTÉS—THE COUNCIL OF TEPETZINCO—SEIZURE OF CACAMA—THE TEZCUCAN RULER DEPOSED—CUICU...

THE MEXICANS THREATEN REVOLT—THE CLERGY IN ARMS—THEY DENOUNCE THE CONDUCT OF MONTEZUMA—THE EMPEROR DECLARES HE CAN NO LONGER RESTRAIN HIS PEOPLE—TIDINGS OF VELAZQUEZ’ FLEET—SAIL...

DISMAL PROSPECTS—EMPIRE TO HOLD, INVASION TO REPEL—THE ARMY DIVIDES—ALVARADO GUARDS MONTEZUMA, WHILE CORTÉS LOOKS AFTER NARVAEZ—THE MARCH SEAWARD—THE RENDEZVOUS—THE CHINANTECS A...

AFTER THE BATTLE—VICTORY MADE SECURE—CONDUCT OF THE CONQUERED—A GENERAL AMNESTY—DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES—AFFAIRS AT THE CAPITAL—INSURRECTION THREATENED—THE SPANIARDS HOLD A COU...

CHARACTER OF THE AZTECS—SPANISH QUARTERS—THE CITY IN ARMS—GROWING HATRED TOWARD THE INVADERS—PERILOUS POSITION OF ALVARADO—MONTEZUMA CALLED TO INTERFERE—FAILING PROVISIONS—MIRAC...

THE NATIVES CONTINUE THE ASSAULT—THEIR FIERCE BRAVERY—THE SPANIARDS BUILD TURRETS—STILL THE MEXICANS PROVE TOO STRONG FOR THEM—MONTEZUMA CALLED TO INTERCEDE—HE IS INSULTED AND S...

A LIVING DEATH—THE OLD IMPERIAL PARTY AND THE NEW POWER—AZTEC DEFIANCE—PERILOUS POSITION OR THE SPANIARDS—DISAPPOINTMENT TO CORTÉS—ANOTHER SALLY—THE DYING MONARCH—HE HAS NO DESI...

Rodrigo de Paz, and died three years after the conquest, ‘y se enterrò en la Capilla de San Joseph.’ _Vetancvrt_, _Teatro Mex._, pt. iii. 144. This author assumes that the youth...

THE CAPTIVE-KING DRAMA CARRIED TOO FAR—BETTER HAD THE SPANIARDS TAKEN MONTEZUMA’S ADVICE, AND HAVE DEPARTED WHILE OPPORTUNITY OFFERED—DIPLOMATIC VALUE OF A DEAD BODY—NECESSITY F...

[817] ‘Botello ... afirmò que ... supiessen que moriria el o su hermano, y algunos de la cõpañia, y qui se saluaria el Capitan, y otros muchos, y ninguno si salian de dia.’ _Her...

FATAL MISTAKE OF THE MEXICANS—A BRIEF RESPITE ALLOWED THE SPANIARDS—THE REMNANT OF THE ARMY AT TLACOPAN—THEY SET OUT FOR TLASCALA—AN EVER INCREASING FORCE AT THEIR HEELS—REST AT...

DIVERS DISASTERS TO THE SPANIARDS—MEXICO MAKES OVERTURES TO TLASCALA—A COUNCIL HELD—TLASCALA REMAINS TRUE TO THE SPANIARDS—DISAFFECTION IN THE SPANISH ARMY—CORTÉS AGAIN WINS THE...

provisions and carriers. _Hist. Mex._, 168. Ixtlilxochitl mentions only 4000, and names some of the leaders. _Hist. Chich._, 305. Herrera states that a question arose as to the...

CONQUEST IN DETAIL—BARBA CAUGHT—OTHER ARRIVALS AND REINFORCEMENTS—THE SMALL-POX COMES TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SPANIARDS—LETTERS TO THE EMPEROR—ESTABLISHING OF SEGURA DE LA FRON...

on an earlier page, adds Sahagun’s fanciful reinforcement of 300 men. _Hist. Nat. Civ._, iv. 371, 387. While the Spaniards were curing themselves, ‘llegó á Tlaxcala un Francisco...

others do not refer to the second fifth. This deduction was declared to be an attempt at installing a second king. The deceit practised, as they claimed, at the distribution of...

THE OBJECTIVE POINT—VESSELS NEEDED—MARTIN LOPEZ SENT TO TLASCALA FOR TIMBER—THIRTEEN BRIGANTINES ORDERED—CORTÉS AT TLASCALA—DRILL AND DISCIPLINE—ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL—PARADE OF...

PLAN FOR THE INVESTMENT OF MEXICO—RECONNOITRING TOUR ROUND THE LAKE—CORTÉS IN COMMAND—ALVARADO AND OLID ACCOMPANY—THEY PROCEED NORTHWARD FROM TEZCUCO—CAPTURE OF CITIES AND STRON...

PHASES OF HEROISM—THE BRIGANTINES UPON THE LAKE—DIVISION OF FORCES BETWEEN ALVARADO, SANDOVAL, AND OLID—DESERTION, CAPTURE, AND EXECUTION OF XICOTENCATL—DEPARTURE OF THE TROOPS...

him at Tezcuco, where many Tlascaltecs were gathered; but he forgets that nearly all this people had already set out for Mexico. His supposition is based on Bernal Diaz, who int...

SOMETHING ABOUT QUAUHTEMOTZIN—INFAMOUS PRETENSIONS OF EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION AND CHRISTIANITY—PROMPT ACTION OF THE MEXICAN EMPEROR—REPETITIONS OF THE ENTRY ASSAULT—SUBMISSION OF...

THE DESTROYERS ADVANCE—FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE PLAZA—DISMAL SITUATION OF THE MEXICANS—THE WORK OF DEMOLITION—MOVEMENTS OF ALVARADO—THE EMPEROR REFUSES TO PARLEY—MISERY OF THE AZT...

determined to die. When the people at last inclined to peace, says Gomara, Quauhtemotzin opposed it on the ground that they had once decided for war, ‘contra su voluntad y conse...