Cortes found allies against the Aztecs among the many conquered and oppressed Central American tribes. They were happy to help, as the Aztecs had a habit of taking war prisoners and sacrificing them to the gods, as well as forcing conquered enemies to pay ridiculously high tributes, which were sort of like taxes.
Hernan Cortes used the Aztec religious beliefs to his advantage by exploiting the prophecy of Quetzalcoatl's return, claiming to be the god returning, which helped him gain both allies and create fear among the Aztecs. This approach ultimately played a significant role in the downfall of Tenochtitlan as it caused divisions within the Aztec empire and weakened their resistance against the Spanish conquest.
Spanish explorers were aided by various indigenous groups who opposed the Incas and Aztecs. These local allies, driven by their own grievances against the dominant empires, provided crucial support in terms of manpower, knowledge of the terrain, and local politics. Notable among these allies were the Tlaxcalans, who assisted Hernán Cortés against the Aztecs, and various tribes discontent with Inca rule that helped Francisco Pizarro in his conquest of the Incas.
APEX: By dividing conquered lands and wealth fairly among his allies, Moctezuma I retained their loyalty.
Hernán Cortés had several notable friends and allies during his conquest of the Aztec Empire. Among them were Diego Velázquez, the governor of Cuba, who initially sponsored Cortés's expedition, and Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a soldier and chronicler who documented the conquest. Additionally, Cortés formed alliances with indigenous groups, such as the Tlaxcalans, who became crucial allies in his campaign against the Aztecs. These relationships played a significant role in his success during the conquest.
The Most Powerful Group Among The Aztecs Were The Mexicas .
The Aztec Empire was conquered by Hernan Cortes of Spain and his allies among the other native tribes that opposed the Aztecs like the Tlaxcala. After the conquest, a vast number of European diseases (smallpox, typhus, etc.) infected the former Aztecs who had no immunity to these diseases. Historians currently estimate that at the time Cortes' conquest, there were around 25 million Aztecs. In the mid-1700s, the entire population of the same region (including Europeans and African slaves) was less than 1 million as a result of these diseases continually removing large chunks of the Aztec population. There still remain some Aztec descendants, but they are very few in number and are far outnumbered by Mestizos, who make up the majority of the Mexican population. Still, 1.5 million Mexicans speak Nahuatl, the original Aztec language.
No. There is a common misconception stating that Aztecs mistook the Spaniards for gods; in fact the Aztecs knew they were men, but were curious to find out what were their motives. Unfortunately, Cortes and his conquistadors were greedy conquerors in search for gold and ultimately destroyed the Aztec empire with the help of smaller tribes who were bitter enemies of the Aztecs. The most important among them were the Talxcalans, who allied with the Spanish and provided more than 100,000 warriors to destroy the Aztecs.
The Aztec Empire was conquered by Hernan Cortes of Spain and his allies among the other native tribes that opposed the Aztecs like the Tlaxcala. After the conquest, a vast number of European diseases (smallpox, typhus, etc.) infected the former Aztecs who had no immunity to these diseases. Historians currently estimate that at the time Cortes' conquest, there were around 25 million Aztecs. In the mid-1700s, the entire population of the same region (including Europeans and African slaves) was less than 1 million as a result of these diseases continually removing large chunks of the Aztec population. There still remain some Aztec descendants, but they are very few in number and are far outnumbered by Mestizos, who make up the majority of the Mexican population. Still, 1.5 million Mexicans speak Nahuatl, the original Aztec language.
The Aztecs converted to Christianity primarily due to the influence of Spanish conquistadors who arrived in their territory. The Spaniards, led by Hernan Cortes, imposed Christianity as the dominant religion, often using force or coercion to enforce the conversion. This ultimately led to the decline of traditional Aztec religious practices and the widespread adoption of Christianity among the Aztec population.
Among being the Eighth Aztec Emperor, Montezuma was also a fearless warrior and helped fight against Hernan Cortes, but in the end died from a rock to the head
The Aztecs believed Hernán Cortés was Quetzalcoatl due to a prophecy that foretold the return of the feathered serpent god, who was said to come from the east. Cortés arrived in 1519 from the east, coinciding with the timing of this prophecy. Additionally, his appearance and the arrival of Spanish ships may have reinforced this belief among the Aztec people, who associated him with their god. This misunderstanding ultimately played a significant role in the Aztecs' response to the Spanish conquest.
Hernán Cortés arranged alliances primarily with various indigenous groups who were rivals of the Aztecs, notably the Tlaxcalans and the Totonacs. These alliances were crucial in providing him with military support and local knowledge, which significantly aided in his campaign against the Aztec Empire. The discontent among these groups towards Aztec rule facilitated Cortés's efforts to conquer Tenochtitlán in 1519.