The Final SiegePart II

At this point the vast majority of the city is under the control of the Spaniards, yet the Mexica resistance continues to hold out on a small bit of land, despite the growing desperation of their struggle. It is early July, and the battles continue, with both sides losing men in the fighting. Cortés begins to lose control over some of his native allies the Tlaxcallans, and innocent victims begin to die at the hands of these Tlaxcallans. The siege goes on despite attempts by Cortés to sue for peace, until the Mexica lords are forced from their last remaining refuge in early August.

The last stages of the siege of Tenochtitlan as described by Cortés are as follows: At this point in the siege, the Spaniards decide to

build a catapult, which doesn’t function properly. Cortés begins to see “the most sorrowful of sights”, meaning starving women and children. A large quarter still held by the Mexicans is entered, after a “fiercely” fought battle, the Spaniards and their native allies take the area. Cortés relates that “So great was the slaughter that more than twelve thousand perished or were taken prisoner”, although the Spaniards’ allies treat the captives so cruelly “that not one was left alive. This occurs even though the Spaniards “severely censured and reprimanded them [their native allies]”.Cortés, Hernan, and Anthony Pagden. 1986. Letters from Mexico. New Haven: Yale University Press, 256-257.Cortés, 257.Cortés, 257.

Conquest by Cortés: Cortés advancing to the City of Mexico

Data from: University of California, San Diego

Scenes of the Spanish Conquest: Taking of Tenochtitlan

Image and original data provided by SCALA, Florence/ART RESOURCE, N.Y.http://www.artres.com/c/htm/Home.aspx

http://www.scalarchives.com

The last stages of the siege of Tenochtitlan as described by Díaz are as follows:

The attempt to build a catapult not only ends in failure, but also incensed Cortés. Cortés subsequently orders the brigantines to be launched for the purpose of inducing the remaining Mexicans to surrender. Because of the approach of these brigantines, Cuatemoc “got ready fifty great piraguas with good rowers so that when he saw himself hard pressed he could save himself by going to hide in some reed beds” and then escape our of Tenochtitlan. The Spanish brigantines, commanded by Ganzalo de Sandoval, overtake the Mexican vessels, and capture Cuatemoc. With this rather brief narrative of the final stages to the siege of Tenochtitlan, the Díaz account ends.Díaz del Castillo, Bernal, Genaro García, and Alfred Percival Maudslay. 1956. The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico, 1517-1521. [New York]: Farrar, Straus, and Cudahy, 452.

Tenochtitlan: Hernando Cortés's map of the city

Data from: University of California, San Diego

The last stages of the siege of Tenochtitlan as described by the natives are as follows:

The intent of the catapult build by the Spaniards was “to kill the Tlatelolca by stealth”. The catapult fails, and the Spaniards can be seen arguing among themselves. The Spaniards attempt an assault, but when they see the Mexica warriors “working up their spirits, taking a manly posture” the conquistadors became very scared and faint hearted. A very interesting side note is present in the native accounts that is not mentioned (for obvious reasons as we shall see) in the Spanish accounts.Sahagún, Bernardino de, Miguel Leon Portilla, and Earl Shorris. 2001. In the Language of Kings: an anthology of Mesoamerican literature--pre-Columbian to the present. New York: W.W. Norton, 302.Sahagún, 303.