The Siege of Tenochtitlan: Cortés vs the Aztec Empire

In 1521, a Spanish-led force of about 900 men, thousands of indigenous allies, and a handful of ships laid siege to the island city of Tenochtitlan, the heart of the Aztec Empire. This episode dives into the final chapter of the conquest of Mexico: the 75-day siege that broke the Mexica resistance. We follow Hernán Cortés from his arrival in 1519, his alliances with Tlaxcala and other enemies of the Aztecs, the infamous Noche Triste retreat, and the eventual return with a fleet of brigantines. Key figures include Moctezuma II, Cuauhtémoc, and the translator Malinche. The siege itself was a brutal urban battle fought on causeways and canals, with smallpox already ravaging the defenders. We explore the tactical innovations, the cultural clashes, and the legacy of a city that rose again as Mexico City. This is the story of one of the most decisive battles in the rise of European colonialism. #SiegeOfTenochtitlan #HernanCortes #AztecEmpire #Mexica #Moctezuma #Cuauhtemoc #Malinche #Tlaxcala #LaNocheTriste #SpanishConquest #Colonialism #Mesoamerica #Smallpox #Brigantines #Causeway #History #FexingoHistory #MilitaryHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo