How Cortés Weaponized the Siege of Tenochtitlan episode artwork

EPISODE · May 3, 2026 · 5 MIN

How Cortés Weaponized the Siege of Tenochtitlan

from Tenochtitlan: The Aztec Capital That Shocked the Spanish — Fexingo History · host Fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the military logistics of the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan, focusing on how Hernán Cortés adapted European siege tactics to the lake-city environment. They discuss the construction of brigantines, the role of Tlaxcalan allies, the water cutoff strategy, and the brutal street-by-street fighting. Key figures include Cortés, Cuauhtémoc, Malinche, and the lesser-known Spanish engineer Martín López. The episode also examines the controversial debate over whether the siege was a just war or a genocide, referencing Bernal Díaz del Castillo's account and modern historians like Matthew Restall. Specific terms like brigantines, Texcoco, Iztapalapa, and the Florentine Codex come up naturally. The conversation ends by reflecting on how the siege reshaped the Americas. #Tenochtitlan #CortS #CuauhtMoc #Siege1521 #Brigantines #Tlaxcala #Malinche #MartNLPez #BernalDAz #FlorentineCodex #Texcoco #Iztapalapa #Aztecs #ConquestOfMexico #MilitaryHistory #JustWar #Mesoamerica #FexingoHistory #AztecEmpire #Mexica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the military logistics of the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan, focusing on how Hernán Cortés adapted European siege tactics to the lake-city environment. They discuss the construction of brigantines, the role of Tlaxcalan allies, the water cutoff strategy, and the brutal street-by-street fighting. Key figures include Cortés, Cuauhtémoc, Malinche, and the lesser-known Spanish engineer Martín López. The episode also examines the controversial debate over whether the siege was a just war or a genocide, referencing Bernal Díaz del Castillo's account and modern historians like Matthew Restall. Specific terms like brigantines, Texcoco, Iztapalapa, and the Florentine Codex come up naturally. The conversation ends by reflecting on how the siege reshaped the Americas. #Tenochtitlan #CortS #CuauhtMoc #Siege1521 #Brigantines #Tlaxcala #Malinche #MartNLPez #BernalDAz #FlorentineCodex #Texcoco #Iztapalapa #Aztecs #ConquestOfMexico #MilitaryHistory #JustWar #Mesoamerica #FexingoHistory #AztecEmpire #Mexica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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How Cortés Weaponized the Siege of Tenochtitlan

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This episode was published on May 3, 2026.

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the military logistics of the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan, focusing on how Hernán Cortés adapted European siege tactics to the lake-city environment. They discuss the construction of brigantines, the role of...

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