Hey, @DavidOBowles here. I'm back to finish talking about the invasion & conquest of the Aztec Empire through the life of its last emperor, Cuāuhtemōc.

As the city recovered from smallpox, the emperor learned Cortés was making more allies. Cuāuhtemōc couldn't spare men, so—

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—he sent jewels to what tributary kingdoms he could, promising a moratorium on tribute to the rest.

But his diplomatic efforts were seen as weakness. More & more city-states saw the writing on the wall, especially after Tetzcohco, 1/3 of the Alliance, aligned with Cortés.

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As Cortés built brigantines on the shores of the lake & worked his growing army closer, conquering the kingdoms that refused an alliance, Cuāuhtemōc worked to stock up on supplies & food.

Then, on May 22, 1521, Cortés began his siege.

After shattering the vital aqueduct—

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—he began to make his way up the long southern causeway. The Mexica had pulled up the wooden bridges, but the enemy began to fill up the gaps with rubble, especially as it reached the southern edge of the city, which brigantine had begun to shell.

Once the causeway was his—

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Cortés started pushing into the city proper each day. Cuāuhtemōc had his people dig trenches each night in the main road, & each day Tlaxcaltecah warriors filled those pits back in with rubble.

The 2 sides would engage in ugly, uneven battles. Then the enemy would retreat.

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June 10th, Cortés pushed all the way up the main causeway / road, to the ceremonial center of Tenochtitlan, where temples & government buildings were. Blasting his way through the southern gate, the invaders pored into the sacred precinct.

But Cuāuhtemōc had an ambush ready.

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Hidden Tenochcah converged on the enemy. The Spanish opened fire, but they had to retreat, leaving a cannon behind. When Tenochcah couldn't fire it, they dumped it into the lake. The enemy set fire to buildings as they ran so women & kids couldn't drop stones from rooftops.

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Cuauhtemoc understood his HQ was in danger. It was time to move.

Though the Spanish blockaded the north with brigantines, keeping food from the island, Cuauhtemoc negotiated with the leaders of Tlatelolco. They were willing to help Tenochtitlan, with one condition.

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Cuauhtemoc would give up the title of hueyi tlahtoani (emperor). Since the king’s mother was from Tlatelolco (daughter of that city’s last king) & Cuauhtemoc had been governor there, he was fine with that city’s ascendance. The Tlatelolcah were Mexica, like the Tenochcah.

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Cuauhtemoc sets up in Yacacolco, Tlatelolco's ceremonial center, beside its famous marketplace. He had the image of Huitzilopochtli brought from the Great Pyramid & hidden at a nearby military school. As Cortés razes his city, Cuauhtemoc uses smoke signals to rally allies.

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With Tenochtitlan effectively abandoned, Cortés orders brigantines up the broader canals. They begin to shell the cermonial center, setting fire to the aviary and the palace of Axayacatl.

Cortés has decided to raze the jewel of Anahuac.

It becomes merely a battlefield.

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The next day, June 19th, 1521, Cortés enters the ceremonial center w/ his army.

There is resistance, but not enough to stop him.

Cuauhtemoc accepts refugee Tenochcah into Tlatelolco, preparing his warriors for the next stage of this horrible siege.

Which ends tomorrow.

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