This resource was developed in 2004 as part of “The Conquest of Mexico” by Nancy Fitch.
1492: Columbus lands on an island, what is probably now called the Dominican Republic
1502: Moctezuma II becomes tlatoani, ruler of Tenochtitlan and a vast empire in Mexico
1511–14: Spaniards conquer Cuba and establish base there
1517: First Spanish expedition to explore Mexico, Mexicas observe omens of doom
1518: Juan de Grijalva explores Yucatán
February 10, 1519: Defying Governor Velásquez’s orders, Cortés Leaves Cuba to conquer Mexico
June 3, 1519: Spaniards arrive at Cempoala
September 2–20, 1519: Spaniards fight with Tlaxcalans but end by winning Tlaxcalan allies
October 1519: Massacre at Cholula
November 8, 1519: Spaniards peacefully enter Tenochtitlan
November 14, 1519: Cortés puts Moctezuma under house arrest
May 1520: Cortés leaves Tenochtitlan to fight army brought by Panfílo de Narváez
May 1520: Pedro de Alvarado and other Spaniards massacre people at Tóxcatl festival
June 24, 1520: Cortés returns to Tenochtitlan
June 1529: Cuitlahuac chosen as tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlan
June 1520: Moctezuma killed
June 30, 1520: La noche triste, The Night of Sorrows, Spaniards suffer heavy losses leaving Tenochtitlan
July 1520: Spaniards reach Tlaxcala and are welcomed
October 1520: Plague ravages Tenochtitlan
December 1520: Cuitlahuac dies from smallpox
February 1521: Cuahtémoc becomes tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlan
May 1521: Spaniards besiege Tenochtitlan
May 1521: Spaniards cut off water to the city
June 1521: Spaniards attempt to enter city
July 1521: Spaniards decide to destroy city
August 7, 1521: Pedro de Alvarado suffers heavy losses trying to take marketplace of Tlatelolco
August 13, 1521: Cuautémoc imprisoned; battle for Tenochtitlan is over
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January 9, 2025