The expert in battle moves the enemy and is not moved by him. - Sun Tzu
CONQUISTADORS: “Miralo oro! Miralo mi oro!” (look at my sh*t! look at my sh*t!)
INTRODUCTION
The modern adaptations of Conquistador life as recorded by Bernal Diaz and Pedro de Cieza fall on https://crackpot.substack.com/t/incadinca
After the defeat of Parfino Narvaez, Cortes made many speeches to win over Narvaez’s followers to his side, promising gold, riches and offices.
We found out that Montezuma’s warriors attacked Pedro Alvarado’s soldiers and burnt their quarters, but as soon as Montezuma heard of our victory and Narvaez’s defeat on the coast, the attack ceased. Cortes mustered more Tlaxcalan warriors. We had 1300 soldiers now after absorbing most of Narvaez’s men. 96 horses and 80 crossbowmen, and as many musketeers. With this Cortes had enough force to re-enter Mexico. We set out at once by forced marches to Texcoco. We arrived in Mexico on June 1, 1520.
Montezuma sent two messengers to welcome us. Cortes called them dogs and turned them back. Not an hour later the attack. A conquistador returned from the town of Tacuba wounded. Cortes ordered Diego de Ordas to take 400 soldiers and many crossbowmen, musketeers and cavalry to fight the Aztecans. Diego encountered so many squadrons of warriors on the streets. They fell upon him and killed 8 soldiers and wounded the rest. Diego himself was wounded. During the retreat they killed a conquistador named Lyscano, who was good with a broadsword.
Many squadrons of Aztec warriors approached our quarters, throwing javelins and slinging stones and firing arrows, wounding 46 men, 12 died. Our cannon, muskets, crossbows lances and sword thrusts killed and wounded many of them, yet they pushed themselves against the points of our swords and lances. At last cannon and muskets cleared an opening for Diego de Ordas to re-enter the stone-built palaces of our quarters. They maintained their attack all day and night. They set fire to our quarters. The javelins stones and arrows scattered on the courts and ground looked like chaff on a threshing floor.
The houses of the city of Mexico were separated by water, accessible by canoe or bridge. The warriors drew up the bridges and flung stones at us from the rooftops of the stone-built houses. For two days the fights raged night and day.
We attacked the great Cue Pyramid of their Idols named Great Teocalli of Tenochtitlan. 4000 Aztecas ascended to defend. They posted with long lances and stones and darts. The cannon nor crossbows nor muskets were of any avail. The courtyard was paved with flagstones so the horses slipped and fell. Our cannon shots carried off ten or fifteen Aztec warriors at a time and we slew many with sword thrusts. We persisted and made our way to the summit. With the help of the Tlaxcalans we set fire to their Idols Huichilobos and Tezcatepuc.
After this with great effort we returned to our quarters, where the attackers had destroyed several walls. That night we dressed our wounds. The followers of Narvaez cursed Cortes. They cursed Velasquez. They wished they were back in their warm beds in Cuba, and thought that we were all crazy out of our minds.
At dawn squadrons of Aztecan warriors surrounded our quarters from all sides. They discharged stones and arrows in thick showers. They tried to force entrance into our quarters. Our cannon and muskets did not discourage them. Cortes sent a message to Montezuma asking to speak from the roof to end the war.
LORD MONTEZUMA: What more does Cortes want from me? I do not want to live nor to listen to him. My life is ruined because of him.
Cristobal de Olid and Padre de la Merced went to speak with Montezuma. Montezuma told him he had been deposed. Nonetheless they placed Montezuma on a battlement on the roof with many conquistadors guarding him. Montezuma spoke to his people then. He begged them to desist fighting and promised the conquistadors would leave Mexico. The chieftains and Caciques asked the warriors to hold their fire of arrows and stones. Then some chiefs came forth and said.
AZTEC CACIQUES: You have been deposed. Lord Ixtapalapa Cuitlahuac has been raised to our Lord. Forgive us.
They had hardly finished when a shower of stones and darts were discharged. Montezuma was hit by three stones in the head, the leg and the arm. Montezuma died then.
