Table of Contents
Who were the enemies of the Aztecs?
In 1428, under their leader Itzcoatl, the Aztecs formed a three-way alliance with the Texcocans and the Tacubans to defeat their most powerful rivals for influence in the region, the Tepanec, and conquer their capital of Azcapotzalco.
Who sided with Hernán Cortés?
Tlaxcalans
A Crucial Alliance For the next two years, the Tlaxcalans honored their alliance with Cortes. Thousands of fierce Tlaxcalan warriors would fight alongside the conquistadors for the duration of the conquest.
Who did the Spanish ally with to fight the Aztec Empire?
Hernán Cortés
Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán. Cortés’s army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city.
Who helped Hernán Cortés defeat Aztecs?
La Malinche helped Cortés manipulate Montezuma and rule Tenochtitlán through him. “It is also said that she informed Cortés of an Aztec plot to destroy his army,” Cosme said. The Spanish army had help in sacking the city.
Who helped Hernan Cortes defeat Aztecs?
What did Hernan Cortes do with his allies?
Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin / Wikimedia Commons Conquistador Hernan Cortes and his Spanish troops did not conquer the Aztec Empire on their own. They had allies, with the Tlaxcalans being among the most important. How this alliance developed and how their support was crucial to Cortes’ success.
How old was Hernan Cortes when he died?
Cortes had to return to Spain to prove his innocence to the King. Cortes was freed from the charges and returned to Mexico, although the king had demoted him from governor. Hernan Cortes died at the age of 62. In his later life he was mostly ignored and barely respected.
Through his mother, Hernán was second cousin once removed of Francisco Pizarro, who later conquered the Inca Empire of modern-day Peru, and not to be confused with another Francisco Pizarro, who joined Cortés to conquer the Aztecs.
When did Hernan Cortes conquer the Aztec Empire?
Hernan Cortés invaded Mexico in 1519 and conquered the Aztec Empire. (Image credit: Public domain. Engraving by W. Holl, 1837.