The Cholula Massacre: Cortés's Bloody Gambit in 1519 episode artwork

EPISODE · May 26, 2026 · 9 MIN

The Cholula Massacre: Cortés's Bloody Gambit in 1519

from The Conquistadors: Exploration, Greed, and Destruction — Fexingo History · host Fexingo

In October 1519, Hernán Cortés and his army slaughtered thousands of unarmed nobles and civilians in the sacred city of Cholula. But was it a preemptive strike against a planned ambush, or a calculated act of terror to break Aztec resistance? This episode examines the conflicting accounts—from Bernal Díaz del Castillo's justification to the Florentine Codex's portrayal of a deliberate massacre. We explore Cholula's role as a neutral power, the Totonac and Tlaxcalan influences, and how the massacre shaped the trajectory of the Conquest. Featuring the testimony of La Malinche, the political scheming of Moctezuma, and the archaeological evidence from the Great Pyramid of Cholula. A turning point that reveals the brutal mechanics of Spanish conquest. #CholulaMassacre #HernánCortés #LaMalinche #Tlaxcala #Moctezuma #BernalDíazDelCastillo #FlorentineCodex #GreatPyramidOfCholula #Totonac #MesoamericanHistory #SpanishConquest #AztecEmpire #Quetzalcoatl #Nahuatl #History #FexingoHistory #ColonialMexico #WarCrimes Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In October 1519, Hernán Cortés and his army slaughtered thousands of unarmed nobles and civilians in the sacred city of Cholula. But was it a preemptive strike against a planned ambush, or a calculated act of terror to break Aztec resistance? This episode examines the conflicting accounts—from Bernal Díaz del Castillo's justification to the Florentine Codex's portrayal of a deliberate massacre. We explore Cholula's role as a neutral power, the Totonac and Tlaxcalan influences, and how the massacre shaped the trajectory of the Conquest. Featuring the testimony of La Malinche, the political scheming of Moctezuma, and the archaeological evidence from the Great Pyramid of Cholula. A turning point that reveals the brutal mechanics of Spanish conquest. #CholulaMassacre #HernánCortés #LaMalinche #Tlaxcala #Moctezuma #BernalDíazDelCastillo #FlorentineCodex #GreatPyramidOfCholula #Totonac #MesoamericanHistory #SpanishConquest #AztecEmpire #Quetzalcoatl #Nahuatl #History #FexingoHistory #ColonialMexico #WarCrimes Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

NOW PLAYING

The Cholula Massacre: Cortés's Bloody Gambit in 1519

0:00 9:11

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Conquistadors: Exploration, Greed, and Destruction — Fexingo History?

This episode is 9 minutes long.

When was this The Conquistadors: Exploration, Greed, and Destruction — Fexingo History episode published?

This episode was published on May 26, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In October 1519, Hernán Cortés and his army slaughtered thousands of unarmed nobles and civilians in the sacred city of Cholula. But was it a preemptive strike against a planned ambush, or a calculated act of terror to break Aztec resistance? This...

Can I download this The Conquistadors: Exploration, Greed, and Destruction — Fexingo History episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!