The fall of Tenochtitlan marked the end of the Aztec Empire. Cortés, leading Spanish forces and indigenous allies, besieged the city using advanced weaponry and naval tactics. The Aztecs, weakened by disease and isolation, fought fiercely but were ultimately overwhelmed.

This pivotal event reshaped the political landscape of Mesoamerica. The Spanish victory paved the way for colonial rule, forever altering the cultural, social, and economic structures of the region. The siege's aftermath set the stage for the creation of New Spain.

Spanish Conquest

Cortés and Strategic Alliances

• Hernán Cortés led Spanish expedition to Mexico in 1519 with 600 men and 16 horses
• Established alliances with indigenous groups opposed to Aztec rule
• Tlaxcalan allies provided crucial military support and intelligence to Spanish forces
• Coalition of indigenous allies grew to include tens of thousands of warriors

Technological and Tactical Advantages

• Spanish technological advantages included steel weapons, firearms, and cavalry
• Horses gave Spanish mobility and psychological edge in battle
• Crossbows and arquebuses provided ranged firepower against Aztec warriors
• Spanish armor offered protection against indigenous weapons (obsidian-edged clubs, spears)

Siege Warfare and Naval Superiority

• Siege tactics employed by Spanish forces to isolate and weaken Tenochtitlan
• Constructed brigantines (small warships) to control Lake Texcoco
• Naval blockade cut off food and water supplies to the Aztec capital
• Spanish artillery bombarded city defenses and buildings

Aztec Resistance

Leadership and Military Response

• Cuauhtémoc, last Aztec emperor, organized fierce resistance against Spanish invasion
• Mobilized Aztec warriors and fortified Tenochtitlan's defenses
• Employed guerrilla tactics to harass Spanish forces and disrupt supply lines
• Utilized knowledge of local terrain and waterways to counterattack Spanish positions

Strategic Setbacks and Counteroffensives

• La Noche Triste ("The Night of Sorrows") marked temporary Aztec victory in June 1520
• Spanish forces suffered heavy losses during attempted nighttime retreat from Tenochtitlan
• Aztecs pursued fleeing Spanish and indigenous allies along causeways
• Cortés regrouped and launched new offensive with reinforced army and allied support

Urban Warfare and Defensive Measures

• Causeways connecting Tenochtitlan to mainland became key battlegrounds
• Aztecs destroyed bridges and created gaps to impede Spanish advance
• Utilized canoes for rapid troop movement and surprise attacks on Spanish positions
• Converted temples and palaces into fortified strongholds within the city

Fall of Tenochtitlan

Epidemic and Demographic Collapse

• Smallpox epidemic devastated Aztec population beginning in 1520
• Disease spread rapidly through densely populated Tenochtitlan
• Significantly weakened Aztec military capabilities and societal structure
• Contributed to breakdown of food production and distribution systems

Final Assault and Aztec Defeat

• Fall of Tenochtitlan occurred on August 13, 1521 after months-long siege
• Spanish forces and indigenous allies launched coordinated land and naval assault
• Aztec defenders overwhelmed by superior numbers and firepower
• Cuauhtémoc captured, marking end of organized Aztec resistance
• Spanish victory led to establishment of colonial rule in central Mexico