Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico with approximately 600 men, 16 horses and 11 ships intent on conquering Mexico for colonization and the spread of Christianity. Realistically, his small army would not be able to conquer Mexico without taking casualties from the unfamiliar environment, sickness and the opposing forces of the Aztecs. Cortés and his men are alien to the Aztecs and are trying to persuade the natives to adopt their lifestyles, which some of the Aztecs are not necessarily comfortable with. They would either become Charles V’s of Spain vassals, Spain’s allies, or face death by the Spaniards’ hands. The infamous Adelantado, conqueror, would need to recruit more allies throughout his exploration of this foreign land as his goals could not be reached without lamentable bloodshed.

He was going to reach the source of power and control for the Aztecs, their emperor, Montezuma. Montezuma was a former high priest before he became emperor unlike his

predecessors who had all been warriors before becoming ruler; this gave him different idealistic set of beliefs that conflicted with others. The emperor was highly superstitious and

spiritual; he believed in forewarning signs and sacrifice to appease the gods. Many other city-states suffered when Montezuma would wage war against them and take their citizens

for the many ritual sacrifice ceremonies Tenochtitlan would hold. Rule in the Aztec empire was largely dependent on religion which kept the natives from wreaking chaos and havoc

against one another. Throughout his rule Montezuma made numerous enemies who held him in contempt for his murders.

Departing Tlaxcala to Tenochtitlan Cortés had already made an alliance with the Tlaxcalteca, a Native American group that resided in Tlaxcala. This city-state was not ruled by the Aztec empire but fought against them in constant warfare and was seeking revenge for the wrongful deaths of their people under Montezuma’s rule. The constant fighting between them became known as the flower wars where the Aztec empire rule over them but used them to provide human sacrifice. They provided a large part of the Spanish force on their journey to Tenochtitlan. Other city-states, the Totonacs of Cempoala, followed in the Tlaxcalteca’s footsteps where they sought to sate their thirst for justice through slaying any of Montezuma’s subjects. All those who followed the Spaniards had to swear their allegiance to Charles V of Spain along with a belief in the Christian God entitling them to certain privileges: riding horses, carrying firearms and taking control of villages.

Other city-states were not as fortunate in remaining unharmed by the Spaniards as they were already allies with the Aztec empire. The city of Cholula was brutally massacred by Cortés’s force setting an example for the other city-states under Aztec rule of what choices they had when the Spaniards passed through: to live or die. They either joined the Spanish army or were killed. Many of them submitted quickly upon hearing the death toll of Cholula. Hernán Cortés was slowly taking over Mexico in the hearts and minds of the natives.

Upon reaching Tenochtitlan Hernán Cortés had acquired more men and resources to use against anyone who stood in his way. How he did it was not in a civilized manner but a brutal and savage one where the blood of thousands of innocents is on his hands as he took over villages and grew in power. The city-states were left with no choice in joining his army unless they wished for death. Joining his army meant becoming vassals of a foreign power who they did not know while accepting a different god to worship. Hernán Cortés reached Tenochtitlan armed and prepared for facing the Aztec emperor but not without a great price that was paid through blood.