Letters from Hernán Cortés

This resource was developed in 2004 as part of “The Conquest of Mexico” by Nancy Fitch.

Cortés, Hernán. Cartas y relaciones de Hernan Cortés al emperador Carlos V. Edited by Pascual de Gayangos. Paris: A. Chaix, 1866. Microfilm.

This was the major source of Cortés’s letters that I used in the construction of this website. Especially important were his descriptions of the Valley of Mexico, particularly Tenochtitlan, and his explanations for the actions he took.

Excerpts

First Letter

• Part 1: Cortés Describes the Country
• Part 2: Spaniards Describe Indigenous Religion
• 160ff: Cortés Defends His Decision to Conquer Mexico

Second Letter, pages

• 38–39: Cortés Defends His Expedition
• 48–49: Cortés Receives Gold from Caciques
• 58–59: Cortés Meets Xicotencatl, Tlaxcala Chief
• 63–64: Moctezuma Sends Gold to the Spaniards
• 64: Cortés Thrilled to Learn of Divisions and Conflicts in Mexico
• 64–66: Tlaxcalans Urge Cortés to Visit Cholula
• 68–69: Cortés Meets Cholulans
• 73–75: Moctezuma Asks Spaniards to Stay Put
• 76–77: Spaniards Investigate the Volcano Popocatepetl
• 85–89: Cortés on Meeting Moctezuma
• 91–94: Cortés Decides to Imprison Moctezuma
• 104–07: Cortés Forces Moctezuma to Tell Mexicas to Obey King of Spain
• 110–14: Cortés Describes Tenochtitlan
• 114–18: Cortés Describes Mexica Temples and Rituals
• 134–35: Cortés Decides to Fight Panfilo Narvaez
• 140–43: Cortés Defeats Narvaez
• 145: Cortés Learns of Revolt in Tenochtitlan
• 146–51: Cortés Returns to Tenochtitlan
• 151: Moctezuma Killed
• 158–60: Cortés on La Noche Triste or The Night of Sorrows
• 164–66: Spaniards Fight Their Way Back to Tlaxcala
• 166–67: Xicotencatl and Other Tlaxcalan Leaders Promise to Help Spaniards

Third Letter, pages

• 255–57: Cortés Constructs Brigantines as Crucial Weapon
• 262–66: Cortés Begins to Retake Tenochtitlan with Brigantines
• 270–72: Spaniards Assault Tenochtitlan
• 277: Cortés Wins New Indian Allies and Strategizes How Best to Deploy the Brigantines
• 278–81: Cortés Decides to Destroy Tenochtitlan
• 281–83: Cortés Explains Why Spaniards Cannot Stay in Tenochtitlan Overnight
• 283–85: Cortés Gains More Indian Allies
• 287–89: Mexicas Force Pedro de Alvarado to Retreat from the Marketplace
• 294–97: Mexicas Inflict Casualties on the Spaniards
• 298–99: Mexicas Sacrifice Spaniards
• 308–10: Cortés Tries to Take Tenochtitlan
• 319–21: Spaniards Construct Catapult
• 328–30: Cortés Begs Mexicas to Surrender
• 331–32: Cuahtemoc is Taken Prisoner

Fifth Letter

• Full letter: Conquerer of Mexico